Craig Levy says he's sorry for killing his Airbnb visitor over a $210 debt, but Ramis Jonuzi's sister has told a Melbourne court she'll never forgive him.
Naime Balla struggles to remember the good times with her brother - her last memory is his body lying on a slab in a coroner's office.
Levy, a 37-year-old former chef, will be sentenced in the Supreme Court next week after pleading guilty to manslaughter for his role in Mr Jonuzi's death on October 25 last year at Brighton East.
The charge was downgraded from murder.
Mr Jonuzi had been asked to leave the room he rented from Levy the day he died, after falling behind on payments.
He had packed his belongings and was ready to go before an altercation that began in the living room and then moved outside.
Levy's housemate Ryan Smart has also pleaded guilty to manslaughter while Jason Colton, who also lived at the home, is due to face trial for murder next February.
Justice Andrew Tinney on Tuesday heard Mr Jonuzi was found face down in the front yard of the home and, despite paramedics' efforts, was declared dead at the scene.
He was found to have died from compression of his neck and blunt force trauma to the head.
Prosecutor Raymond Gibson told a plea hearing on Tuesday there had been a dispute over the money Mr Jonuzi owed the night he died.
Levy who has admitted grabbing Mr Jonuzi by the legs and at one point forcibly dropping his elbow into the victim's chest.
Mr Jonuzi was punched, kicked and held down, and cried and apologised as he struggled to breathe, the court heard.
During the incident Levy went inside and called police for help.
Ms Balla told Levy his actions had destroyed her family and he could have chosen to change the outcome so her brother wouldn't have died in such a horrific way.
"You will never be forgiven for what you've done," she told the court.
Her sister Afradita Hamika said not having Mr Jonuzi in their lives was unbearable.
Andrew Ross said he was traumatised by images of how his partner had died and his death now made him see the world differently.
Levy's lawyer Megan Tittensor said he was very sorry for what happened and he knows his conscience will never be clear.
Ms Tittensor said Levy had good prospects for rehabilitation.
Levy will be sentenced next Thursday. Smart is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
Australian Associated Press
