Snowtown serial killer Robert Joe Wagner says 'there's no point' showing remorse for the murders of 10 people because any apology he makes would not be taken seriously.

Wagner, 47, represented himself before the South Australian Supreme Court on Monday in his bid to have a non-parole period set on his life sentence.

Relatives of his victims are opposed to any possible release, fearing he may kill again.

After Wagner listed cases where a non-parole period has been granted, including that of Truro killer James Miller, Justice Greg Parker asked him 'you're not suggesting that you've shown contrition, remorse?'

Snowtown serial killer Robert Joe Wagner (pictured handcuffed) has represented himself in a bid to have a non-parole period set on his life sentence

He is serving 10 life sentences over a killing spree in which he stored bodies in barrels at a bank building (pictured)

Wagner said any suggestion of remorse would be dismissed as disingenuous.

'So there's no point in me saying I'm sorry or I feel remorse for what I've done,' he said from the dock.

Since 1999, Wagner has been serving 10 life sentences over the infamous 'bodies-in-the-barrels' killing spree.

The ringleader in the murders, John Justin Bunting, is similarly serving life without parole.

South Australian victims' rights commissioner Bronwyn Killmier told the court Wagner's application was 'a slap in the face' for families affected.

'The prisoner has stated that the setting of a non-parole period would assist his mental wellbeing, but it would not help the mental wellbeing of the people suffering because of his actions,' lawyer Noah Redmond told the court, as Ms Killmier sat in the gallery

'It is, in fact, abhorrent to them that he might be given an opportunity to be released.'

Wagner said from the dock: 'So there's no point in me saying I'm sorry or I feel remorse for what I've done'

Wagner is serving ten consecutive life sentences without parole for his role in the 1999 murders (pictured are three of his victims)

Mr Redmond said the victims had suffered lasting effects as a result of Wagner's crimes, and take some comfort knowing he will never be released.

'They do not believe that Wagner has reformed, rehabilitated or demonstrated remorse,' he said.

'In fact, a number of the victims believe that he is not finished and if released, he will kill again.'

Prosecutor Carmen Matteo said Wagner's crimes were 'of unparalleled seriousness' and urged Justice Parker to dismiss the application.

The serial killings were exposed in 1999 when police found eight dismembered bodies in acid-filled barrels in the vault of a disused bank at Snowtown, north of Adelaide.

Police found eight dismembered bodies in acid-filled barrels in the vault of a disused bank at Snowtown

Two more bodies were found buried in a backyard at suburban Salisbury North while detectives later linked two further deaths to Bunting and Wagner.

After a trial lasting 170 days, Bunting was found guilty of 11 murders with Wagner jailed over 10 of the deaths.

Two other men, Mark Ray Haydon and James Spyridon Vlassakis, are also behind bars over the killings; Vlassakis after pleading guilty to four murders and Haydon for helping Wagner and Bunting dispose of the bodies.

Justice Parker reserved his decision until a date to be set.