The violence that followed would tragically end with the death of 41-year-old Russell Berry.

Meaney, 28, admitted his role on Thursday, pleading guilty to charges including intentionally causing injury and assault with a weapon and was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, with a minimum of 12 months.

His cousin Jacob Allan also remains in custody, charged with Mr Berry’s murder.

When Mr Berry called out “Boo Boo” just after midnight on May 20 this year, he was actually referring to his friend’s nickname.

But Meaney took it the wrong way and chose to confront him and hit him to the head with a bag containing cans of alcohol.

Another man allegedly came to his friends’ defence and assaulted both Meaney and Allan with two machetes, but ran away when he was stripped of one of the weapons.

Meaney picked up the machete and struck Mr Berry’s friend to the head, despite the victim not being the aggressor, causing a cut that required stitches.

Allan then allegedly kicked Mr Berry in the head and inflicted the fatal injuries.

Meaney’s mother, brother, sister and friends were at Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Thursday to offer support.

Barrister Keith Boulton said the father of a seven-year-old daughter threw himself at the mercy of the court.

“What has been a constant problem in his life is that he drank alcohol heavily and that may have impacted his judgment,” he said.

The court heard that after deep thinking in custody, Meaney decided he wanted a fresh start.

“It’s like there’s been some sort of personal revelation," Mr Boulton said.

“The photographs (taken of the victims after the fatal brawl) are some of the most graphic I’ve seen.

“It’s been a shock to my client – a man died, that hasn’t been lost on him.”

Magistrate Ian Watkins said it was not clear if alcohol or anger led the fight.

“It just spiralled out of control,” he said.

“I hope you get a job and you’re able to start getting on with your life and provide for your daughter.”

Meaney had been on bail at the time of the assault and also pleaded guilty to the earlier offences.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Penny Lawler said he sent Facebook messages to a woman on March 5, making threats including that “the girls are going to kick your face in”.

“The victim felt threatened as the messages were threatening and aggressive,” she said.

Meaney was allegedly with Allan and a third man on March 23 when they chased another victim around Wangaratta in a car.

He armed himself with a baseball bat and metal pole to make threats at various times during the confrontations, but it was the third man who allegedly threw a metal wheel brace through the victim’s car window before they fled to a private residence.

Officers then arrested Meaney on May 17 when he was caught illegally in possession of a 12-gauge shotgun, which had been used to shoot rabbits in a private property off the Hume Freeway at Winton North.

Allan’s case is due to appear back in court in November.