Thai men who murdered Melbourne man Luke Mitchell jailed for 24 years

Two Thai nationals who murdered Luke Mitchell outside a Melbourne convenience store will spend at least 18 years in jail.

More than six years after the brutal stabbing attack, Sarud Seehaverachart and Thatiya Terdputham were sentenced to 24 years in jail, with a minimum of 18, by Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale today.

The pair, and another man who is serving a 15 year jail sentence for the attack, fled to Thailand soon after they killed Mr Mitchell, 29, in Brunswick on May 24, 2009 but were extradited and found guilty after a lengthy trial.

Terdputham, 40, and Seehaverachart, 33, were found to have punched, kicked and stabbed Mr Mitchell in the early hours of May 24 in retribution for an earlier fight with him, which saw him go 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 Thai nationals then armed themselves and sought out Mr Mitchell.

Justice Christopher Beale described the attack on Mr Mitchell as vicious and frenzied.