Melbourne man Kyle Zandipour is appealing against his conviction and sentence for a six-second attack outside a fast-food restaurant on St Kilda Road which left a student dead.

Joshua Hardy of Darwin died of a severe brain injury after being pushed to the ground, kicked and stomped on outside a McDonald’s outlet on October 18, 2014.

The Melbourne university student was 21 years old.

Zandipour, 29, of Melbourne, was found guilty of Mr Hardy’s death in May and sentenced to 20 years in jail.

He must serve 16 years before he is eligible for parole.

Mr Hardy, who came from a prominent Darwin family, was a third-year arts student and was on his way home from a valedictory dinner when the attack happened.

In the application, Zandipour’s lawyers set out five grounds for the appeal calling the verdict unsafe and unsatisfactory.

His lawyers said the sentence was “manifestly excessive” in light of Zandipour’s remorse, work history and prospects of rehabilitation.