Fostar Akoteu, 23, of Burnside, Jacob Polutele, 23, of Seddon, and Sioeli Seau, 20, of Sunshine North, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court last Wednesday for a committal mention.

The courtroom was packed with family and friends who turned out in support of the three men accused of beating Cain Anthony Aguiar to death outside the Blarney Stone Irish Pub on the corner of Anderson and Ballarat streets on July 9.

The court heard that dozens of witnesses are expected to be called if a trial proceeds. Kieran Reynolds, defence lawyer for Akoteu, said he planned to call 24 witnesses as well as medical experts because the assault occurred outside the hotel at closing time and there were "differing accounts" about what had happened including whether a bottle, stubby or pot glass was used in an assault on Mr Aguiar.

Magistrate Charles Rozencwajg said because of this, "the pathologist is going to be a critical witness in this case". Evidence would also be given by videolink, the court heard.

Mr Rozencwajg remanded Akoteu, Polutele and Seau in custody to appear again on February 22 for a contested committal hearing.

No pleas were entered and no applications were made for bail.

As of last week, 1317 people had signed up to a Facebook site called "Rest in Peace Cain Anthony Aguiar", which is filled with messages of grief and condolence over his death.

Mr Aguiar, 25, of Kelowna in British Columbia, was staying with an uncle in Seddon at the time of the incident. He was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious head injuries on July 9 and died in hospital five days later.

Family reported on the Facebook site that Mr Aguiar was buried at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery in Canada on August 11.