John Edward Tilly Griffin appears in Supreme Court for sentencing submissions over killing pensioner Gary Robinson

A man who bashed a pensioner to death then covered his body in birdseed, hundreds and thousands and shampoo was acting in self-defence, a court has heard.

A pensioner’s lifeless body was covered in birdseed, hundreds and thousands and shampoo by his 28-year-old killer mere moments after he was brutally bashed to death, a court has heard.

John Edward Tilly Griffin, now 29, appeared in the Supreme Court on Friday in front of Justice Sandi McDonald for sentencing submissions for the 2022 death of 68-year-old Gary Robinson. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The court heard he could not explain how the act – described by his defence counsel as “disrespectful … on all levels” – that followed Mr Robinson’s death could have happened but accepted he did it.

“I’ll take the opportunity before going into my submissions to address the issue in respect to the birdseed, hundreds and thousands and shampoo being essentially on the victim in the aftermath of this incident,” Griffin’s defence counsel said.

“I’ve asked Mr Griffin about this a number of times and he’s at a loss to explain how it is they came to end up there but he does accept he was the person who covered the victim in those items.

“He accepts that what falls from that is that it is an extremely grave act in the aftermath – it’s disrespectful to the victim on all levels.”

“This man was severely beaten to death,” Justice McDonald said.

John Griffin killed Peter Robinson in a brutal attack at Port Neill. Picture: Facebook

Griffin was arrested in 2022 after police alleged he killed Mr Robinson some time between August 31 and September 4 on the outskirts of the coastal community of Port Neill, an hour from Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula.

Mr Robinson’s body was located inside the caravan he was living in after locals sounded the alarm.

The court previously heard Griffin had fought with Mr Robinson outside his caravan in Port Neill, before the victim retreated inside, followed by Griffin. It is then alleged Mr Robinson brandished a knife.

“At the point he (Griffin) becomes aware of the knife, he’s trapped in that caravan with a man and that’s the point at which the self-defence kicks in,” Justice McDonald clarified to the prosecution on Friday.

“Given that the level of force the defendant inflicted on the deceased was so serious to ultimately cause the deceased’s death, it’s the director’s submission that that is a serious form of manslaughter,” Stephanie Moore, for the prosecution, said.

The scene of a murder at Port Neill, South Australia, after a man was found dead in a caravan on a property. Picture: Todd Lewis

Major crime speaking to neighbouring properties at Port Neill, South Australia, after a man was found dead in a caravan on a property. Picture: Todd Lewis

Ms Moore told the court Mr Robinson fell to the caravan’s floor after being attacked, at which point Griffin repeatedly stomped on his chest and head.

Griffin has told the court he cannot recall the attack but said he was “more than likely” wearing steelcap boots.

Mr Robinson’s daughter, who was not present in court, prepared a victim impact statement read by Ms Moore. She said her father’s death had “killed the person I used to be as well”.

“The actions of John Griffin the day he killed my dad has affected me and my family and continues to affect us,” Ms Moore read.

“I thought it would get easier with time coming to the end of the court case, but it got so much harder. I have anxiety attacks (and) I cry everyday … I think about how he died, everyday.

“My whole life I was told I looked so much like my dad (and) every time I look in the mirror, I see his face and now I imagine how he looked when he died.

“My daughters are so used to me crying now that they don’t ask me why I’m crying, they just hug me and say ‘you have us mum’.

“I am no longer the happy, carefree mum – they will never remember my dad, and they will never remember the mum I used to be before he was murdered.”

Defence counsel submitted their client had been “failed by those charged with his upbringing”, but acknowledged there was no excuse for his “extremely violent” and “disrespectful” behaviour.

Justice McDonald adjourned the matter for directions later this month.