The mother of murder victim Danny Barber – who was beaten to death by housemate Nikola Milosevic – “very happy” with jury verdict

The mother of murder victim Danny Barber has expressed her happiness at her son’s killer, Nikola Milosevic, being found guilty.

The mother of bashing murder victim Danny Barber says she is “very, very happy” her son’s killer has been found guilty of the crime.

Elizabeth Blake, who has terminal cancer, told The Advertiser she “wasn’t sure she would live to see” Nikola Milosevic found guilty.

Danny Barber, 52, who was fatally stabbed at a share house in North Plympton. Picture: South Australian Police.

On Monday, a Supreme Court jury took just 2.5 hours to reach their unanimous verdict and convict the Serbian-born murderer – who beat Mr Barber to death using a baseball bat, wheelie bin and bicycle – after a trial lasting nine days.

Mrs Blake, 72, lives interstate and travelled to Adelaide to sit through the evidence.

She said her son was “very clever” in his youth and had even been offered membership to Golden Key while studying at university.

But, she said a drug addiction later destroyed his life.

“He didn’t deserve what happened, it’s horrendous,” she said. “I’m so sorry that a baby boy that I had ended up that way.”

Murderer Nikola Milosevic. Picture Facebook

Milosevic, 38, and Mr Barber, 52, shared a house with three other men in North Plympton but bad blood developed between the men over a bad internet connection.

During the trial, prosecutors, said there was also tension between the men over Mr Barber’s motorbike, which Milosevic borrowed and was then stolen.

Opening the trial, prosecutor Carmen Matteo said Milosevic had “beat Danny Barber to death” over several hours, inflicting about 30 blows to his head and body while high on methamphetamine in August 2019.

During his attack, he used an 11kg wheelie bin that was dropped on Mr Barber’s head.

The jury had heard Mr Barber threw a pot plant through Milosevic’s window and knifed a note to his door threatening him with an axe in the hours before the attack.

It was not until about 3am the following morning that Milosevic called for emergency services and denied any involvement.

Milosevic had claimed his attack was in self-defence, but the jury rejected that claim by its verdict.

He had pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter, but not guilty to murder prior to the trial.

Milosevic, who will serve a mandatory life sentence, will return to court in July.