Two Thais found guilty of the murder of Australian Luke Mitchell at a Melbourne convenience store more than six years ago have been sentenced to 24 years in jail.
Sarud Seehaverachart and Thatiya Terdputham will spend at least 18 years in jail after Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale passed sentence on Thursday.
The pair, and another man, Teparat Tepsum who earlier pleaded guilty to killing Mitchell and testified against his former friends and is now serving 15 years, fled to Thailand soon after they killed the 29-year-old "good samaritan" in Brunswick on May 24, 2009. They were extradited and found guilty after a lengthy trial.
Thatiya, 40, and Sarud, 33, were found to have punched, kicked and stabbed Mitchell in retribution for an earlier fight with him after he had gone to the aid of his sister-in-law.
The court heard she had exchanged words with the men and then been confronted by another man. The Thais then armed themselves and hunted down Mitchell.
The fatal incident began outside a nightclub on Sydney Road in Brunswick. Teparat, the owner of a traditional massage parlour on Sydney Road, was drinking whiskey with his friends, Sarud and Thatiya, when they began arguing with a woman outside the business. They then attacked a bystander who told them to back off.
Mitchell's sister-in-law, Daniela, stepped in to aid the bystander and was confronted by the three. Mitchell then stepped in to protect his sister-in-law and a fight began in the street that Mitchell won.
Mitchell left the scene, but Sarud and Thatiya followed him to a 7-Eleven store where they repeatedly stabbed him in the parking lot. He died several hours later.
An autopsy revealed Mitchell was stabbed three times in the chest, once in the stomach and twice in the right arm.
Justice Christopher Beale described the attack as vicious and frenzied.