The daughter of a South Australian murder victim has told the Supreme Court she hopes her father's "piercing blue eyes" haunt his killer.

Father-of-four Nathan Russell, 46, was murdered at a Sturt Street premises in Adelaide's CBD in January 2021.

His killer, Dylan John Kovarskis, will be given a life sentence for the murder, but Justice Anne Bampton is yet to impose a parole period.

Prosecutor Carmen Matteo SC told the court Kovarskis put on a balaclava and bashed down the front door of the premises before twice stabbing Mr Russell.

"There's no dispute that the defendant's intention at the time was to engage in physical violence using a weapon," she said.

The court heard it took nine seconds for Kovarskis to enter the building and murder his victim.

Mr Russell's daughter, Ulyshka de la Perrelle, told the court she felt no pity for her father's killer but sadness for his parents who must live with his decision.

"Dylan, I know what you did and everyone in this room knows what you did," she said through tears.

"I hope they drive you to change but I'm doubtful."

Reading her victim impact statement, Belinda Russell told the court that Kovarskis chose to murder her brother and now had to live with the consequences.

She questioned how broken Kovarskis must be to take a life, or whether he was "just the most selfish and arrogant person to walk this Earth".

"This choice will rightfully rob you of your freedom," she told him.

Threats preceded murder, court told

Kovarskis's lawyer Nick Vadasz told the court his client believed someone associated with the Sturt Street premises — which was known for methamphetamine use — had threatened his mother.

"He received a threatening message from somebody associated with Sturt Street indicating that there was going to be harm caused to his mother," he said.

"There was a build-up of messages by Mr Kovarskis and a deterioration of his state of mind.

"He was there in his own mind to sort out the issue with this threat."

The court heard Kovarskis did not know who the threat had come from, but Mr Russell was the first to confront him when he broke in armed with a knife.

"Mr Russell came towards him to try and stop him and that's when he inflicted the wounds," Mr Vadasz said.

"He didn't go to Sturt Street with the intention of killing or causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Russell. He went there to engage in a violent confrontation.

"He wasn't sure who he was going to have that conflict with. There was no direct animosity with Mr Russell."

But Ms Matteo told the court Kovarskis was using aggressive language in text messages towards Sturt Street residents before receiving the threat to his mother.

She said Kovarskis sent messages to people which stated, "I'll kill you all" and "I'll do life".

Mr Vadasz also told the court the murder was at the lower end of seriousness because of his drug use and cognitive disability.

But Justice Bampton said it was a "tragedy of this court" that a combination of drug use and low cognitive function often led to murder.

She will impose a parole period next month.