In the South Australian Supreme Court Justice Timothy Anderson said David Richard Fraser, 36, had not intended to kill his lover, Shaine Douglas Moore in February, 2005.

Not long before Mr Moore’s death, Fraser had moved out of their home at suburban Kilburn after an argument.

But he returned one night and pair had sex, during which Fraser agreed to tie a shoelace around Mr Moore’s neck and pull it tight.

Justice Anderson said Mr Moore collapsed and Fraser covered his body with clothing and bedding and left.

He was caught after the shoelace was found to have traces of his DNA.

Fraser pleaded not guilty to murder at the start of his trial but later accepted a prosecution offer to admit to the lesser offence of
manslaughter.

Justice Anderson said while he accepted Fraser did not intend to kill Mr Moore, he described his conduct was grossly negligent.