Dylan John Kovarskis given minimum 20-year sentence for murder of Nathan Russell

Nathan Russell was repeatedly stabbed and left to die, but a judge says his masked, drug-affected murderer’s actions warrant the minimum sentence.

An angry, intoxicated, drug-affected steroid user who donned a mask and bikie colours, stormed a man’s home, stabbed him twice and left him to die will serve the minimum sentence for murder.

Hours before Nathan Russell’s murder, Dylan John Kovarskis had sent text messages to his associates saying his mother had been threatened and “I’ll do life for what I’m about to do”.

On Friday, however, the Supreme Court accepted Kovarskis did not intend to kill Nathan Russell and was deeply remorseful for his crime.

Nathan Russell was killed in a vicious, targeted attack on Sturt St, police say. Picture, supplied

Justice Anne Bampton ruled a 20-year non-parole period was appropriate given Kovarskis’ “genuine belief” his own family was in danger.

Outside court, Mr Russell’s sister Belinda did not comment on the sentence, but expressed her family’s gratitude for the work of SA Police Major Crime detectives and prosecutors.

She also “extended empathy” to the Kovarskis family for their trauma and loss, and asked both families be left to grieve in private.

Kovarskis, 26, pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Russell, 46, at a Sturt Street property in January 2021.

He initially offered to confess to the lesser offence of manslaughter, but that was rejected by prosecutors, and claimed he was motivated to act by a threat made against his mother.

CCTV footage shows Kovarskis he wore a balaclava and Finks Motorcycle Club supporter clothing at the time, and was armed with a wooden pole and a knife.

He disposed of the pole before stabbing Mr Russell twice – previously, the court heard the murder was linked to the methylamphetamine trade.

The family of murder victim Nathan Russell leave the Supreme Court after giving victim impact statements in February. Picture: 7NEWS

In their victim impact statements last month, Mr Russell’s family told Kovarskis he “chose murder”, leaving both them and his own family with ongoing suffering.

In sentencing on Friday, Justice Bampton said Kovarskis had, prior to the murder, been engaged in a text message dispute with a woman who also lives at Mr Russell’s address.

The stabbings, she said, occurred “just nine seconds” after Kovarskis “effectively stormed” the unit at 4.26am, and that everyone else inside fled afterwards.

Mr Russell was not found until 4.45pm, and was pronounced dead – due to his wounds and a heart attack – at 10.25pm.

Justice Bampton said Kovarskis had told associates, both before and after the murder, the woman knew where his parents lived.

“You were of the genuine belief that the (threatening) messages were real and the threat in them was imminent,” she said.

“You were grossly intoxicated and your thoughts were hampered … however, you were still able to understand the nature of your actions and their wrongfulness.”