The 41-year-old was the victim of an alleged affray in White Street about 12.30am Saturday.

Friends have described him as a softly-spoken and kind man who was not the type of person to get involved in fights.

“Russ is as rough as guts on the outside, but is nothing more than a kind-hearted, warm and caring man on the inside. A real case of ‘never judge a book by its cover’,” friend Robbie Alexander said. 

Tracey Field had told The Border Mail Mr Berry was an “awesome bloke” who “wouldn’t harm anyone”.

Jacob Allan, 23, was charged with recklessly causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence and Christopher Meaney, 27, with recklessly causing injury over the alleged affray – they have both been in custody since the weekend.

Police have alleged Allan stomped on Mr Berry’s head after he was already knocked unconscious, causing the fatal injuries.

Homicide Squad detectives were called to Wangaratta to investigate.

Police said the charges against the two men arrested in relation to their alleged involvement in the incident would remain unchanged, pending the result of a post mortem.

Wangaratta detectives are continuing to look into the circumstances of the rest of the affray, including a man who produced two machetes to injure Allan and Meaney before the pair allegedly turned on Mr Berry.

They have spoken to the offender, but charges were pending until the investigation was complete.