A man responsible for the death of a missing associate – who was strangled, shot and his remains burned – made creepy pictures about his “affinity” for a lethal shotgun used in the same killing.

Michael Jay Evans sat in silence with his eyes closed as the Supreme Court in Brisbane was told of his “morally repugnant” conduct in killing missing man Sam Price-Purcell was laid bare on Friday.

Years after the killing, police unearthed a picture made by Evans, captioned “In the SPAS I can trust”.

Mr Price-Purcell, 28, has not been seen since 2015.

He was last seen getting into a yellow Holden Commodore – owned by Evans – in the Brisbane suburb of Mitchelton on February 16 that same year.

On Friday, the court was told this was because Evans and Mr Price-Purcell had a falling out over a debt the latter owed for a vehicle he bought from Evans.

The pair were known to each other through the criminal underworld and the use and distribution of illicit drugs.

Evans also believed Mr Price-Purcell thought he “wanted things he wasn’t entitled to” and had threatened him, crown prosecutor Clayton Wallis said.

“The rumour mill was alive and well throughout the circle of people connected with both the defendant and Mr Price-Purcell,” he said.

A “retribution” plan was formed to violently assault him.

The court was told Mr Price-Purcell was driven by Evans, Mr Harris and a third man towards Toowoomba from Brisbane on February 15, 2015 by the pair.

While the vehicle was driving near Helidon, Mr Price-Purcell was strangled from the back seat of the car.

He was then shot with Evans’ SPAS-12 pump-action shotgun, Mr Wallis said.

Mr Price-Purcell’s body was wrapped in tarpaulin and left on the side of the road while the group went to a nearby property.

There, they disposed of their clothing and items and Evans showered.

Mr Wallis said Evans then burned Mr Price-Purcell’s body to avoid detection by roadworks.

Mr Price-Purcell’s remains have never been found.

In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, his mother said she struggled with anxiety and had recurring nightmares over her son’s death.

“I hope one day we can reminisce about Sam without being reminded of the horror of how he (Sam) died,” her statement read.

“We will never get to hold him, celebrate with him or enjoy his wonderful sense of humour again.”

Evans was initially charged with Mr Price-Purcell’s murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, along with a charge of interfering with a corpse.

Police investigations into Mr Price-Purcell’s disappearance did not commence until 2018 when officers identified Evans’ distinctive yellow Holden Commodore in connection with the disappearance.

They also linked Evans’ SPAS-12 shotgun to the crime, including creepy drawings he made indicating his “affinity” to the weapon.

One picture, found in a letter Evans had written, came with the caption: “In the SPAS I can trust.”

“There are a number of features in that document that inform the intellectual or psychological workings of the defendant at some point in time before 2018, with his challenges to authority,” Mr Wallis said.

Evans’ defence counsel submitted he had “immense regret” for his actions.

Harris was found not guilty on charges of murder and interfering with Mr Price-Purcell’s corpse in June last year.

Barrister Matthew Hynes said Evans had struggled for years with an addiction to drugs and had since developed anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder since Mr Price-Purcell’s death.

This included recurring nightmares of “burning flesh”.

The court was told Evans had indicated he would co-operate with authorities to find the remains of Mr Price-Purcell.

He was now taking medication for his conditions, while working in the prison.

Mr Hynes submitted Mr Price-Purcell’s death involved no “inhumane” treatment by his client and it was not a prolonged event.

“You were the planner of this offence,” Supreme Court Justice Melanie Hindman said.

“You sought to implement this plan, to commit serious violence. It was premeditated … a life has been needlessly lost.”

Justice Melanie Hindman said Mr Price-Purcell’s death had caused significant trauma to his family.

Evans’ conduct in burning the remains was “disgusting”, she said.

“It has deprived a family of the remains of their child, it has slowed and frustrated investigations,” Justice Hindman said.

Evans was sentenced to 10.5 years’ jail, with 1825 days spent in pre-sentence custody declared as time served.

A further charge of arson was referred to the District Court.

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