Victorian man 'beaten to death, dumped in ditch'

A Melbourne man beat his friend to death in a drunken fight and dumped his body in a ditch.

The body of Brett Harrap, 30, was found in May last year beside a Carrum Downs road after he was reported missing by his former partner.

Glenn Isaac Carleton, 40, of Dandenong, has pleaded guilty to his manslaughter.

The Victorian Supreme Court was on Tuesday told that Carleton kneed, kicked and stomped on Harrap at a Cranbourne unit on April 14 after both men had been drinking.

Crown prosecutor Brendan Kissane said neighbours reported hearing two men arguing and fighting that night, and of a man shouting "help me".

Mr Harrap was rendered unconscious by the confrontation and was put into a bed by Carleton.

The following day, Carleton hid Mr Harrap's body with the help of a friend.

Defence barrister Pradeep Tiwana said Carleton had battled a severe alcohol addiction his entire life, and was drunk at the time of the fight.

He said Mr Harrap struck Carleton as he tried to sleep.

"It was a fight initiated by Mr Harrap, involving two individuals who were both under the influence of alcohol, which led to tragic and unintended consequences," he told the court.

Mr Tiwana said the case was at the less serious end of the scale for the crime of manslaughter.

Justice Stephen Kaye will sentence Carleton later this month.