The family of a woman who was brutally murdered at Loxton in the South Australian Riverland last year has told her killer of the devastating impact of his actions on an entire community.
The man, 20, has been sentenced to a mandatory life prison term for the murder of Nina Starr.
Her sisters and relatives told the man in court that he had robbed them of a loving and caring woman who would do anything for her family and the Loxton community.
Ms Starr was beaten beyond recognition and sexually assaulted by the man during her early morning walk in January last year.
The man's lawyer Grant Algie said his client still did not know why he had randomly attacked Ms Starr with a spanner but wanted to apologise from the "bottom of his heart".
Mr Algie said previous psychological reports on the accused had painted a disturbing picture of a violent young man who would "readily express his anger physically, with little provocation."
A psychologist had warned that "without treatment there is a high risk of [the accused] reoffending".
Justice Margaret Nyland told the man she hoped the emotional victim impact statements would help him begin to realise the enormous effect of his actions.
A non-parole term will be set later.
