Justin Phillips, 20, one of three Seattle men charged with assault and attempted robbery in connection with a June 18 attack that left a man with severe brain injuries, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison.

Phillips, Kenneth Fisher, 19, and Jaynus Speed, 22, were among a group of men who attacked Dawit Alemu while the man was walking in the 1900 block of 13th Avenue South, according to court charging papers.

After knocking Alemu to the ground, Phillips and Fisher went through his pockets, court papers said. Police found Phillips hiding behind a nearby building. Witnesses to the attack identified him as having kicked and punched Alemu. Fisher was soon arrested as well, charging papers said.

Phillips first told investigators that Alemu had started the fight by hitting him in the face, charging papers said. But Phillips stopped talking to police when he was told there were witnesses and that one witness had taken photos of the attack, court papers said.

Phillips and Fisher were arrested shortly after the assault. Witnesses later identified Speed as part of the group of attackers, charging papers said.

Alemu, prosecutors said, suffered severe brain damage in the attack.

Fisher and Speed will return to court on Sept. 21 for a pre-trial hearing, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg.