Two men who hit and kicked a man to death in an alcohol-fuelled attack in the Western Australia mining town of Newman have been jailed.

Key points: Nathan Haynes was attacked by two men at the Newman Hotel in 2016

Nathan Haynes was attacked by two men at the Newman Hotel in 2016 He died after being hit and kicked in the head with "great force"

He died after being hit and kicked in the head with "great force" His attackers were sentenced to nine and seven year jail sentences

Nathan Haynes, 45, died after being punched to the ground and kicked in the head outside the Newman Hotel in August 2016.

Oueni Pomana and Saimone Kala were found guilty of manslaughter earlier this year.

Kala had hit Mr Haynes, knocking him to the ground, before Pomana kicked him twice in the head.

Justice Bruno Fiannaca told the Supreme Court in Perth Mr Haynes had been kicked in a "cowardly and brutal manner when he was down and defenceless".

He said it could have been the punch, the fall or the kicks which caused his death.

"Both of you unlawfully killed Mr Haynes," Justice Fiannaca told the court.

"You cut short the life of a good man."

The Supreme Court was told Mr Haynes did not pose a threat to the two men. ( ABC News: Briana Shepherd )

'Soccer kicks' to the head

The court heard while there had been an altercation at the hotel on the night, Mr Haynes did not pose a threat to the two men.

Pomana was drunk, dropping glasses and drinking someone else's beer before making disparaging comments about women who were with Mr Haynes and his friends.

One of Mr Haynes's friends, who was a co-worker at Southern Cross Electrical Engineering, and another man were knocked to the ground by Kala and Pomana outside the hotel.

Mr Haynes died after being punched to the ground and kicked in the head in Newman. ( ABC North West WA: Sonia Feng )

Both men were briefly rendered unconscious.

Justice Fiannaca said Mr Haynes appeared to want to go to his friend's aid and was being moved away when Kala "hit him hard", causing him to go limp and fall to the ground.

The victim, Justice Fiannaca said, did not know the punch was coming and had been "quietly minding his own business" during the night.

Addressing Kala, he said Mr Haynes was "considerably smaller than you".

Pomana then kicked Mr Haynes twice to the head "with great force", swinging his leg "like soccer kicks".

Afterwards, Pomana did not participate in a police interview, but Kala freely told officers of his own history of "getting into fights" when under the influence of alcohol.

History of alcohol-fuelled fights

Justice Fiannaca said Mr Haynes had worked through his own personal difficulties to become a kind and caring man.

He had helped people while travelling in the Philippines, for example, arranging for an excavator to prevent drainage in a village.

Mr Haynes had been "quietly minding his own business" during the night, the judge said. ( Facebook: Nathan Haynes )

The court heard that Pomana had worked in Port Hedland as a mental health co-ordinator, in aged care in Newman and as a Pathways advisor at the Jigalong community after coming to WA for work in 2010.

The 47-year-old, who was born in Tonga, had received a university education in New Zealand.

Justice Fiannaca told Pomana that his actions had brought "a great ruin for you".

He said "no doubt alcohol changes you", adding it was a catalyst for what occurred.

Kala, who was born in New Zealand, had worked for the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation and had a young son.

Justice Fiannaca said Kala, who had admitted to resorting to violence in the past, had initially tried to be a peacemaker on the night of the killing.

But he said he allowed his loyalty to Pomana to draw him into events which led to Mr Haynes's death.

Pomana, 47, was sentenced to nine years in prison, with the court told he would "almost inevitably" be deported after being released.

Kala, 29, was given seven years. Both will be eligible for parole.

Sentences 'fair', victim's family says

Outside court, Mr Haynes's stepmother Carolyn Cooney said she thought the sentences were "fair and just".

The court heard Mr Haynes had overcome difficulties to become a kind and caring man. ( ABC News )

She said she hoped it sent a message about alcohol-fuelled violence.

"It happens way too often in our community," she said.

"Alcohol's accepted way too much, it should be accepted as a drug and a poison more than it is.

"And I think more needs to be done. I really appreciate what the judge has done and I really appreciate his comments."

She said she wanted Mr Haynes to be remembered as a kind man.

"As the beautiful man that he was. He was a soft, gentle, respectful man, loved his family, and who loved life," she said,

"And it was all too short."