Murdered boy's dad calls accused "coward"

The father of a murdered teen told one of the accused killers he's going to "get it" in a tense scene in a Melbourne court.

Two men faced court charged with murdering Cayleb Hough, 17, whose body was found in a mine shaft in Bacchus Marsh, west of Melbourne, in March.

Cayleb's father, Steve Hough, told Rhys Charles Mewburn, 28, of Kawarren, he was a coward during Mewburn's brief appearance via videolink in the Melbourne Magistrates on Thursday.

When co-accused Thomas Kelson, 27, of McKinnon, was brought before the court, Mr Hough got to his feet and told him he was a "slimy coward", and "better have protection" in prison.

"Every dog has his day and you're going to get it," Mr Hough said before a friend led him from the court.

Outside court he said only that what had happened was a tragedy.

Cayleb's body was discovered in March after he disappeared in December.

Charge sheets put the date of his murder as either December 20 or 21, 2015.

A lawyer for Kelson asked that his client be assessed by a mental health practitioner.

Magistrate Ann Collins remanded the two men to return to court in September.