A Saskatoon man who disguised the murder of another man as a suicide is going to prison for life with no chance of parole for 16 years.

Justice Richard Danyliuk had harsh words for 22-year-old Joshua Andrew Burwell when he passed sentence at Court of Queen's Bench.

He is an unrepentant liar, prepared to engage in multiple deceits to avoid the personal consequences of his behaviour. - Justice Richard Danyliuk

"He is a cold, violent, ruthless killer. He is an unrepentant liar, prepared to engage in multiple deceits to avoid the personal consequences of his behaviour," he wrote in a 43-page decision.

"He lacks anything resembling remorse or empathy."

Bradley Buffalo died in October 2015. Investigators originally ruled that he died by hanging.

However, that changed when Burwell was arrested almost a year later in connection with an armed robbery of a pizza driver.

​"While in custody for the robbery of the pizza delivery man, Mr. Burwell was interviewed by detectives from Major Crimes, Saskatoon Police Service," Danyliuk wrote.

"He confessed to the murder of Mr. Buffalo."

Pictured above is the home where Bradley Buffalo was murdered. Josh Burwell has been sentenced to life in prison without the eligibility of parole for 16 years. (CBC)

Court heard how Burwell, another man and Buffalo were all drinking and doing drugs at a house in the city's Sutherland neighbourhood.

Burwell apparently doctored Buffalo's drink and then lured him into the basement.

"The rope was then put over over Mr. Buffalo's head and Mr. Burwell kicked Mr. Buffalo's feet from underneath him. [The second man] held Mr. Buffalo's feet off the ground while Mr. Burwell held the rope so it did not slip," Danyliuk wrote.

The man who helped kill Bradley Buffalo himself later committed suicide, Danyliuk added.

"Mr. Burwell must realize, and I find he does not yet realize it, that his conduct is legally and morally wrong, this is repugnant," he wrote.

"His crimes involve preying upon those weaker than him by employing an almost indiscriminate use of violence."