Keith Russell Yandle pleads guilty to hiding Steven Murphy’s remains at Kudla

A father who confessed to killing a man in his shed containing 10 cannabis plants has denied it counts as murder. But prosecutors say they disagree.

The shed at Kudla beneath which SA Police found the body of missing man Steven Murphy. Picture: 7 NEWS

A northern suburbs father has admitted shooting a defenceless man in his shed and burying his body – but insists his crime was manslaughter, not murder.

Keith Russell Yandle has made SA legal history as the first person to plead guilty to the new offence of hiding human remains – while denying his crime was sparked by the 10 cannabis plants in his shed at Kudla.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, and after months of out-of-court negotiations, Yandle pleaded not guilty to allegations he murdered Steven Murphy.

Instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter – an admission that was rejected by prosecutors, triggering a Supreme Court trial.

By virtue of his plea, Yandle has admitted he killed Mr Murphy – who was sleeping rough in the area to be near his children – but denied his actions amounted to the legal definition of murder.

Yandle also pleaded not guilty to having 10 cultivated cannabis plants for sale in the shed, and to possessing both a .22 calibre rifle and its ammunition.

However, his confession to having concealed Mr Murphy’s remains in order to avoid discovery of a crime exposes him to a possible maximum 15-year prison term.

Keith Yandle.

Marco Yandle.

Keith, 46, and his son Marco, 20, were arrested just days after Mr Murphy’s body was found in a 15m by 15m bunker on the Yandle’s property.

Prosecutors have alleged Keith fired the fatal shots while Marco shone a torch on Mr Murphy, and that the incident was captured on CCTV.

Prosecutors subsequently seized control of the 2ha property at Kudla owned by Keith and his wife, Kathy. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mrs Yandle.

In January, Marco pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assisting an offender as part of a plea bargain deal.

Keith’s part in that deal, meanwhile, fell into jeopardy last week when he changed lawyers mid-case and sought more time to negotiate with prosecutors.

Steven Murphy was sleeping rough at the time of his death, in order to be near to his children.

On Thursday, James Caldicott, for Yandle, confirmed his client was ready to enter his pleas.

Asked how he pleaded to the murder charge, Yandle – appearing by video link – replied: “Not guilty, but guilty to manslaughter.”

Prosecutors confirmed they were not prepared to accept that plea.

Magistrate Justin Wickens remanded Yandle in custody to face the Supreme Court in May.

At that time, a trial date will be set for the murder, firearms and drugs charges, while the concealing human remains charge will be finalised once those matters have concluded.