A man who committed a "barbaric and brutish" murder of another man at Murray Bridge in 2019 has made several outbursts during his Supreme Court sentencing, saying he would not accept parole.
Justice Kevin Nicholson imposed a life sentence on 52-year-old David James Russell and imposed a 19-year non-parole period for the bashing murder of Oliver Todd at Murray Bridge.
Another man, 33-year-old Ned Timothy Hutchinson, was allowed to walk free from court today after serving almost three years' jail for helping Russell dispose of the body.
The court heard Russell launched an unprovoked and ferocious attack on Mr Todd with a hammer, axe or a crowbar in front of Hutchinson, who did not intervene.
Justice Nicholson said Russell threatened Hutchinson and demanded he help him dispose of the body and clean up Mr Todd's house.
"Your attack on Mr Todd must have been frenetic and extremely violent — his injuries to his head and upper torso were simply horrific," he said.
"Russell was known to have a volatile nature and be physically aggressive towards himself and others. You knew him as 'Crazy Dave'.
"Your conduct in killing Mr Todd was barbaric and brutish."
The court heard Russell had no motive to kill Mr Todd but told police he "snapped".
Justice Nicholson said Russell's violent predisposition, methamphetamine use and lack of sleep were an "explosive mix".
He said Russell had one of the saddest and most troubling upbringings he had ever come across in the court system.
When Justice Nicholson started to outline his childhood, which included street violence and physical abuse, Russell yelled from the dock: "You don't know f*** all about my background."
Flanked by six sherriff's officers after an alarm sounded, Russell continued to make outbursts during the sentencing, calling the prosecutor a "Muppet" and investigating detectives as "bunyips".
"I won't accept a parole period," Russell said from the dock.
Justice Nicholson said Russell suffered a traumatic brain injury after being bashed in jail and had never received any psychological treatment for his substance abuse.
"You are undoubtedly a very dangerous person. The fact that you can snap for no rational reason and brutally murder Mr Todd illustrates this," he said.
"Without intervention and change, you will remain a very dangerous person."
Justice Nicholson reduced his 20-year mandatory non-parole period by one year because he helped police locate the body and pleaded guilty ahead of a trial.
Hutchinson was given a six-month and 25-day sentence which was suspended on the condition he enter an 18-month good behaviour bond.
Outside court, Hutchinson said he was thankful to be released from prison.
