A man has been sentenced to life in jail after being found guilty of murdering a German backpacker in a road-rage argument in inner-city Brisbane two years ago.

Key points: Jamie Saxon stabbed German tourist Dominik Schulze multiple times on Milton Road in October 2017

Jamie Saxon stabbed German tourist Dominik Schulze multiple times on Milton Road in October 2017 Saxon had previously been cautioned by police for carrying a flick knife in his car

Saxon had previously been cautioned by police for carrying a flick knife in his car Saxon stood up in the dock to apologise to Mr Schulze's family

Jamie Saxon, 35, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, arguing he was simply trying to defend himself and his then-partner when he stabbed Dominik Schulze multiple times on Milton Road in October 2017.

The confrontation started when the tourist was hit by the car being driven by Saxon's then-partner, who said Mr Schulze was standing in the middle of the road intoxicated, with his pants down.

Saxon's mother wept in the court room when the jury delivered its verdict after more than a day of deliberations.

During sentencing submissions, Crown prosecutor David Meredith told the court Saxon had a history of violent behaviour because he grew up in a housing commission area, where he "learnt how to fight".

Saxon had also previously been cautioned by police for carrying a flick knife in his car, before it was confiscated.

'We miss him so much'

In a victim impact statement, Mr Schulze's parents — who called him "Dommy" — said the 30-year-old had brought his friend to Australia for a trip they had looked forward to for a long time.

"The ground was ripped out from under our feet," the statement read.

"We miss him so much … we're still shaken to think how unnecessary and pointless this crime was — the fury rises up in us.

"Is there a just sentence for this offender? No there is not."

Saxon stood up in the dock to apologise to Mr Schulze's family.

"I'm deeply sorry for this happening and for it to turn out the way it has — it was not my intention," he told the court.

"If I could switch places with him, I would. In saying that, I will have to live with this for the rest of my life — I have consistent nightmares.

"I know that they would've felt pain and loss, and I am sorry for their loss and the pain they've endured."

Police at the scene of the fatal stabbing of 30-year-old German backpacker Dominik Schulze in 2017. ( ABC News )

Judge chokes back tears

The court heard Mr Schulze died eight hours after he received four stab wounds by Saxon's fishing knife.

Justice Ann Lyons choked back tears as she spoke of the "heroic efforts" of the men and women, both at the scene and in hospital, who worked to save Mr Schulze's life, to no avail.

"They face trauma and tragedy every day and this case revealed in great detail their truly extraordinary efforts, which I wanted to recognise," she said.

"The evidence indicated that dozens of people fought to save Mr Schulze's life over those eight hours."

Paramedics worked to save backpacker Dominik Schulze's life at the scene of the stabbing. ( ABC News )

She said the circumstances of Mr Schulze's death "are truly tragic".

"He was a young German backpacker who arrived in Australia with his friend about eight months earlier," she said to Saxon.

"There's no doubt Mr Schulze and Mr Mennebroecker [his friend] were heavily intoxicated that morning, and were essentially skylarking in the middle of Milton Road, when a car driven by your girlfriend accidentally clipped Mr Schulze as he stood in the middle of the road with his pants down, in the face of oncoming traffic."

She accepted Mr Schulze was also acting aggressively and "clearly wanted to fight" but condemned Saxon's actions.

"You understand the tragic implications of what you've done," she told Saxon.

"His life has been tragically cut short … All of your actions are rightly condemned by the community."

Saxon will not be eligible for parole until serving the mandatory minimum of 20 years behind bars.