Witnesses to be cross-examined in David Cassai case Family of David Cassai leave the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. Thomas McCluskey leaving the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. ABOUT 30 people who witnessed the fatal bashing of a 22-year-old on New Year's Eve in Rye will be cross-examined at a court hearing for three men accused of being involved in the fight. David Cassai died after allegedly being dealt a fatal "roundhouse style" blow to the head by 18-year-old Dylan Closter around 1am on December 31 on Point Nepean Rd. The teen charged with the manslaughter of the young Templestowe man - who faced court again today - previously claimed he was attacked first. His friends Tyrone Russell, 21, and Thomas McCluskey, 25, were also charged over the brawl between two groups of young men, but not in relation to Mr Cassai's death. Deputy Chief Magistrate Dan Muling today gave permission for Mr Closter's lawyers to cross-examine 32 witnesses at a committal hearing beginning August 5. At the end of the hearing, which is expected to take three weeks, the magistrate will decide whether there is sufficient evidence for each of the three men to stand trial. Relatives of David Cassai - including his mother and two sisters - as well as relatives of the accused men were at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today. The court previously heard witnesses would be cross-examined about which group started the fight. Prosecutor Luke Exell said last month there was strong evidence to suggest the accused men and their friends were the aggressors. The court heard CCTV footage showed friends of Mr Closter - a third-year apprentice plumber from Launching Place - tried to restrain him moments before he fatally punched Mr Cassai. But at Mr Closter's bail application in January, the court heard he told police he saw a boy from Mr Cassai's group remove a street sign and yelled out: "What do you think you're doing, mate?" Mr Closter said he was assaulted by a number of people and, after being knocked to the ground, instinctively struck out at the nearest person to him. "He said he didn't realise at the time he had seriously injured the boy that he punched," Det-Sgt Solomon told the court. The detective said CCTV footage showed Mr Closter falling and getting up from the ground, but did not show him being punched and kicked while on the ground, as he told police. The footage showed Mr Cassai had his hands in front of him - in an attempt to defend himself or ward off the imminent attack - when Mr Closter delivered a "roundhouse style punch" to the right side of Mr Cassai's head, the court heard. "He falls straight to the ground backwards and we see his head hit the pavement and he lies completely still, he never moves," Det-Sgt Solomon said. He said Mr Cassai was airlifted to The Alfred hospital, but medical experts told police at 8am he had sustained an "unsurvivable head injury" with a "hopeless" prognosis. He died about 4pm that day. Mr Russell, a West Australian man, was charged with affray and two counts of intentionally causing injury. Mr McCluskey, of Kilsyth, was also charged with intentionally causing injury and affray.