Man jailed for stomping backpacker to death

A Melbourne man has been jailed for at least 15 years for stomping a Dublin backpacker to death.

Luke James Wentholt beat 30-year-old David Greene to the ground, then repeatedly stomped on his head during an argument at their St Kilda East house on August 25 last year.

Justice Terry Forrest said Wentholt’s attack on Mr Greene, from Cabinteely in Dublin, was sparked by a belief Mr Greene was interested in his then-girlfriend, Shayla Pullen.

The trio had been drinking with a group of friends at the home they shared when Wentholt launched his unprovoked attack.

“You advised the group you were going to bed and asked Ms Pullen to join you — she declined,” Justice Forrest said.

“You then requested that Mr Greene speak to you in the hallway.”

Wentholt then struck Mr Greene, before going on a “violent rampage” through the house, punching and kicking other party guests, Justice Forrest said.

Among the victims was fellow backpacker David Byas, from Dún Laoghaire, who was knocked unconscious beside Mr Greene.

Justice Forrest said Wentholt returned to the hallway and began stomping with his bare feet on the heads of Mr Greene and Mr Byas.

Ms Pullen told police she tried to stop Wentholt but he pushed her to the ground and called her a slut.

“He was mostly just stomping on their heads with his foot,” she said.

“I remember Luke saying to me, ‘If you want to fuck them, you can fuck them’.”

Wentholt then fled the house and both men were rushed to hospital.

Mr Greene died in hospital some two weeks later.

Mr Byas was placed in an induced coma for several days and is yet to return to work as he recovers from his injuries.

Wentholt’s sentencing in the Victorian Supreme Court yesterday was streamed live for Mr Greene’s family in Ireland.

Justice Forrest described Wentholt as a violent man with a criminal history stretching back 13 years.

“You have led a violent adult life with little regard for the rule of law or the safety and wellbeing of others,” he told Wentholt.

Judge Forrest acknowledged Wentholt’s troubled past, in which he was physically abused as a child and accepted he had some remorse for his crime.

But he said the community must be protected from such violent outbursts.

Wentholt was convicted of murdering Mr Greene and recklessly causing serious injury to Mr Byas and was jailed for 18 years and six months with a minimum of 15 years.