Aaron Joseph Streets, 24, pleaded guilty to the murder of his former housemate Dean Adrian Gower, 49, of Moonah, on April 7.

The Hobart Supreme Court was told that Streets punched, kicked and stomped on Mr Gower before stabbing him eight times.

Justice Shan Tennent said that after the attack, Streets "quite calmly" went to a McDonald's outlet to eat before turning himself in to police.

The court heard Streets, who believed he was going to jail for a breach of bail, wanted to be imprisoned for "something of substance".

"I thought, what the hell, I'm already going to breach my bail ... I might as well go and do something better," Streets said in his police interview.

Streets also told police that he enjoyed carrying out the attack. "I lost track of time because I was enjoying myself so much ... It made me feel powerful. It was better than any drug I'd ever had, the high, the rush I was getting," he said.

Justice Tennent said Streets was also annoyed because he thought Mr Gower had touched his girlfriend inappropriately.

Streets, who had a number of prior convictions, including rape and arson, was sentenced to 35 years in jail with a 22-year non-parole period.

He showed no emotion when the sentence was handed down.

In sentencing, Justice Tennent said she had taken into account Streets's "appalling upbringing" but the "brutal and sustained attack on a man incapable of defending himself" was the "worst crime imaginable".

"None of the reasons put forward in your police interview as to why you decided to kill the deceased would have any substance as far as any normal person is concerned," Justice Tennent said.

"You appear to have become enraged by perceived wrongs done by the deceased to you and attacked him without mercy."

Justice Tennent said nothing had been put to the court to suggest Streets's behaviour would change.

"This was a terrible crime and one which would make the public justifiably afraid that you might act again in the same manner," she said.