Troy Matthew Maskell, 47, of Numurkah, faced a retrial in Melbourne's Supreme Court after successfully appealing his conviction last year.
He was accused of John Burke's manslaughter at a Strathmerton service station in 2021.
Strathmerton postmaster, Mr Burke, 73, lived alone at the back of the town's post office and would often pop into the service station to chat with the attendant.
Maskell was intoxicated on August 8, 2021, when he walked into the store around midnight with his partner and daughter, whom Mr Burke greeted as he chatted to staff.
Maskell's partner took offence at Mr Burke speaking to a child with them, before Maskell picked up a one-litre bottle of sports drink and threw it into Mr Burke's head.
The jury was told the unprovoked attack continued, as Maskell walked over to Mr Burke and kicked him as he lay on a tiled floor.
Mr Burke died in hospital 11 weeks later from a brain injury.
Jurors took less than a day deliberating and returned with their guilty verdict for manslaughter on Wednesday, February 25.
Maskell had been jailed for eight years in 2023, with a non-parole period of five, after being found guilty of manslaughter in his first trial over Mr Burke's death.
However, Maskell successfully appealed this conviction, with three Victorian Court of Appeal judges ordering he face a fresh trial in July 2025.
His conviction was set after the judges found there had been a substantial miscarriage of justice.
— with AAP
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