The Walker brothers are the sons of Tim Walker, QC, who on Monday supported his sons in court, and grandsons of pre-eminent scientist and 2000 Australian of the Year recipient Sir Gustav Nossal. Sam and Dominic Walker's father, Tim Walker QC, leaves Melbourne Magistrates Court. Credit:Eddie Jim Throughout the day-long hearing Sam Walker glared at the media and smirked while helping pass notes between his father, who was sitting in the body of the court room, and his legal team at the bar table. There were seven lawyers in court representing the three accused men. The brothers and their friend had spent the evening of September 6, 2018, in the MCC members' area of the stadium watching an AFL finals match between Richmond and Hawthorn.

Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The court heard that shortly before midnight Dominic Walker was seen on CCTV cameras at the ground stumbling and appearing intoxicated before the trio left on foot, walking towards Jolimont station and Wellington Parade. As they left they became involved in a argument with David Raeside and Leonard Tricarico, aged in their 60s and 40s respectively, before the Walker brothers made to leave in a taxi. Shortly after that the brothers spotted Mr Raeside and Mr Tricarico near Mr Fitt and went to intervene. Crown prosecutor Craig McConaghy said what followed was a ‘‘most vicious attack’’.

While Sam Walker was entangled with one victim, his older brother kicked the other to the head before dragging him along the ground and hitting his head onto the road 15 times. Sam Walker on Monday. Credit:Eddie Jim Dominic Walker then yelled ‘‘I’m going to f---ing kill you, you’re going to be dead’’ before stomping on the man’s head three times, leaving him unconscious on the road with bleeding on the brain and a string of facial fractures. The other victim was heard yelling ‘‘my arm is broken just leave me alone’’ during the 45-second assaults. Lawyers for the three men argued that the Walker brothers had come to the aid of their ‘‘vulnerable’’ friend when the incident occurred and that there was no pre-planning nor weapons involved in the attack.

Loading They told the court that their clients were all battling serious mental health conditions alongside drug and alcohol issues which had worsened after they finished at Kew's elite Xavier College. Both Walker brothers now attend alcoholics and narcotics anonymous. Dominic Walker now works for a crowd funding company and abstains from alcohol while his younger brother lays synthetic grass after a two-month stint in inpatient treatment and a bipolar diagnosis.

Mr Fitt submitted a written apology to the court in which he said he'd been left "horrified" by his actions and was committed to ensuring the behaviour was never repeated. Benjamin Fitt leaves court. Credit:Eddie Jim His lawyer Peter Morrissey said the 28-year-old was a gentle and vulnerable young man who'd gotten "quite drunk at the football, as many people do". "The community does not need to put him in prison. There is a lot to like about Ben Fitt," Mr Morrissey said. But the prosecution argued that mobile footage of the assaults made for confronting viewing and showed Mr Fitt inflicting blows as he moved from one victim to the other.

‘‘Most of [Dominic Walker’s] blows occurred when the victim was defenceless and being held. This was a most vicious attack that left the victim in an unconscious state,’’ the crown prosecutor said. ‘‘It is at the upper echelon of offending.’ "They must be sentenced for their actions on the night." Earlier the men’s lawyers had argued that the charges should be heard in the Magistrates Court despite a push by the prosecution for it to be heard in the County Court. Magistrates can impose maximum jail terms of two years on a single charge, or five years on multiple charges.

The charge of intentionally causing injury carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail if before a County Court judge. Magistrate Duncan Reynolds granted the application and will hear the trio’s pleas. Mr Reynolds ordered the trio be assessed for community corrections orders ahead of sentencing on October 22.