An Adelaide man has been found guilty of the “cowardly murder” of Michael Purse at a unit in Adelaide’s western suburbs in 2019, but his lawyer has flagged a possible appeal.

On Tuesday, South Australian Supreme Court Associate Justice Kevin Nicholson told Mark-Bry Leedham, 32, that he would be sentenced to life imprisonment; this is the mandatory capital sentence for murder.

Leedham, who was arrested in April 2021 and charged with murder along with two others, looked at his lawyer, David Moen, and raised his eyebrows when the verdict was announced.

Mr. Purse’s disappearance was declared a major crime during Leedham’s arrest two years after Mr. Purse’s disappearance.

Mr Purse, whose remains were never found, was last seen alive in the Adelaide CBD in February 2019.

Police had previously said Mr Purse was taken from the casino in Adelaide to a unit in Kilburn where he was killed.

Officers believe his body was later placed in a hatchback car seen by traffic cameras driving north of Adelaide.

Leedham was indicted along with David Graham Young and Edwin James Hinrichsen; Both were sentenced to more than 11 years behind bars in November last year after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

In sentencing the pair, prosecutor Michael Foundas said Mr Leedham claimed he took Mr Purse to Young’s unit, stabbed him in the torso and strangled him with a telephone cord.

The court also heard Hinrichsen kicked Mr Purse in the chest while his hands were bound with duct tape and Young punched him repeatedly before putting him on his neck.

Young had also previously admitted dumping Mr Purse’s body “after several unsuccessful attempts”.

‘Life imprisonment’ for family

Mr Purse’s father, Jeffrey Purse, said he and his family were “very pleased” with the decision.

Speaking outside court, he said: “A fantastic outcome was achieved today with Leedham found guilty of the cowardly murder of my son Michael. This was an unprovoked attack.”

“Michael was defenseless at the time with his hands tied.

Mr Purse said although he was pleased with the outcome, he and his family were also given life sentences following Michael’s death.

“This hasn’t been easy over the last five years,” he said.

“As I have said in the past, unfortunately, this is a life sentence for us too.

“He was a good guy to us, always tried to please, very smart, unfortunately he got himself down the wrong path.”

Mr Purse also said he understood police were still trying to find his son’s body.

“I understand the police are still participating in some searches and using other techniques to find him,” he said.

Defense lawyer David Moen, for Leedham, flagged a possible appeal and, citing the “no sentence, no parole” law, said there would be “no parole” without Mr Purse at this stage.

“I wasn’t able to go over the decision with him, but he was advised that he wanted to look at appeal options,” he said.

Leedham will return to the Supreme Court early next year for sentencing submissions.