SA sledgehammer killer jailed for 22 years

An Adelaide man who smashed his mate's head with a sledgehammer before extracting money from his victim's family has been jailed for at least 22 years.

Domenico Antonio Papalia, 21, had admitted burying the body of Edward Camilleri but denied attacking him and instead blamed two other men.

However, a South Australian Supreme Court jury last September found him guilty of murdering the 50-year-old in April 2011.

On Tuesday, Justice Michael David jailed him for life, setting a non-parole period of 22 years.

Four months after Mr Camilleri went missing, his body was found in a shallow grave on an olive grove property owned by Papalia's grandparents at Two Wells.

The crown alleged Papalia was motivated by his need for money and, after murdering Mr Camilleri, stole his property, including $40,000 cash he had in a safe.

He then extracted thousands of dollars from the victim's family to fund a non-existent search for him.

The prosector said Papalia wove an "elaborate web of deceit,lies and subterfuge" to divert suspicion away from himself.

Steven Zenuni, 21, who is serving a minimum 10-and-a-half years jail term after admitting the murder, gave evidence for the Crown.

He admitted hitting Mr Camilleri with a hammer, saying Papalia had given him cocaine and told him the victim was a dangerous child molester who carried weapons.

Zenuni testified that after he and Mr Camilleri struggled for the hammer, Papalia twice used a sledgehammer to hit the victim as he was on the ground.