Man jailed over fatal attack outside hotel

A man has been warned by a judge he needs to learn to control his temper as he was jailed for five years over an attack outside a hotel that killed another man.

Matthew Edward Norman Windlass assaulted 54-year-old David Pavlic outside the Mermaid Hotel, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, on Australia Day last year during a dispute between their respective groups of friends.

Mr Pavlic fell back and hit his head on the bitumen, causing catastrophic injuries, including multiple skull fractures and internal head injuries.

He was rushed to hospital and placed in a coma but died in Perth several days later.

Windlass, 24, pleaded guilty to assault causing death and was sentenced in the WA Supreme Court on Thursday.

Justice Lindy Jenkins said while Mr Pavlic's conduct before the fatal assault may have been provocative, he posed no real threat to Windlass or his friends at the time he was attacked.

Justice Jenkins said the unexpected and violent death of an otherwise healthy person was bound to have a profound effect on their loved ones.

Mr Pavlic's family were unable to say goodbye to him because he was unconscious in the days after the attack.

The court heard Windlass had a history of alcohol and drug use, and was drunk at the time of the assault.

Justice Jenkins noted Windlass was remorseful and had a disadvantaged background, but said personal deterrence was still important.

"You need to learn to control your temper," she warned.

Windlass must serve a minimum of three years behind bars before he can be eligible for parole.