Mildura thugs knock man unconscious in brutal late-night street attack
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Two Mildura thugs left a man unconscious on a footpath after a late-night alcohol-fuelled argument turned violent, a court has heard.
James Muhturis, 24, and Noah Ziguras, 18, fronted Mildura Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to charges of recklessly causing injury.
The drama began when Ziguras, a reserve footy player for Red Cliffs, got into a heated argument with the victim outside a licensed venue about 10.45pm on February 21.
The pair hurled insults back and forth, until Ziguras called his mate Muhturis for back up.
Muhturis arrived in his BMW and, after a brief exchange, the pair chased the victim down the street.
As Muhturis started talking to the victim again, Ziguras punched the man in the face. Muhturis then punched him while he was still on the ground and again as he stood up.
When the victim tried to get up again, Ziguras landed a final blow that knocked him out cold.
The duo then fled the scene leaving the man unconscious on the footpath. Police found the man and he was taken to hospital.
Muhturis and Ziguras were arrested four days later.
Both men made full admissions, with Ziguras telling police he assaulted the man because he had threatened him, while Muhturis claimed he thought the victim was about to punch Ziguras.
Ziguras's lawyer Bert Hilton Wood said his client was extremely remorseful, indicating his client was drunk and the victim had made threats to stab him.
Muhturis's lawyer Rebecca Boreham said her client wasn't the instigator in the assault and pointed to his co-operation with police and willingness to take full responsibility for his actions.
Magistrate Rose Falla slammed the pair for showing a 'complete disregard for human life'.
'What I find sickening is the lack of care,' Ms Falla told them.
'I accept you are both enormously remorseful and it was completely out of character. If you behave like this on alcohol, maybe you shouldn't drink.
'You're lucky you are here talking to me and not another person in a higher jurisdiction court,' she said.
Both men were put on two year good behaviour bonds with conviction, ordered to engage in counselling and write a letter of apology to the victim.
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