The family of a man who was left for dead on an Adelaide footpath after being stabbed in the heart have described his killer as "unpredictable and dangerous" with a "blatant disregard for human life".
Abdi Abdullah Ali, 32, is facing sentencing in the South Australian Supreme Court for killing Matthew Scott Bristow at Prospect in February 2020.
The 43-year-old victim was found by a passer-by on a footpath the following morning.
His cousin, Kylie Wiseman, told the court that Mr Bristow was in his own car when he was stabbed by Ali in the chest before getting kicked out onto the street.
"Matt was left alone in a dark street, in pain, gasping for breath, yelling for help but his cries for help were to no avail," Ms Wiseman said in her victim impact statement.
"I heard on the radio that a man was found stabbed that morning and felt sad as how could that happen to anyone – and later found out that was my cousin, Matt.
"I'm so sorry to the member of the public who found Matt because that would be traumatic, and I hope they are doing OK."
Ms Wiseman said Ali was "unpredictable and dangerous" with a "blatant disregard for human life".
She said he went to a service station to get a sandwich after stabbing her cousin.
"I believe Ali is a danger to society," she told Justice Anne Bampton.
Ms Wiseman read a statement written by Mr Bristow's mother, whose name was not mentioned, who said her son was a "delight" as a child.
Justice Bampton acquitted Ali of murder following a trial, but he had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Nick Vadasz, for Ali, told the court his client did not intend to kill Mr Bristow and did not even know he had stabbed him.
"He was not aware that at the time Mr Bristow exited the car, he had received a fatal knife wound," he said.
He said the two men – who were both affected by methamphetamine — were wrestling over the knife in the confined space of a car when Mr Bristow was stabbed in the chest.
The court heard the argument erupted when Mr Bristow saw a text message on Ali's phone about a plot to steal his car.
"Mr Ali is truly remorseful for his actions – he didn't plan the events of that night," Mr Vadasz said.
Ali will be sentenced next month.
