UPDATED 2.03PM: There are still some unanswered questions in the case of Auckland man Shalvin Prasad who was killed and set on fire using petrol as an accelerant.

FULL STORY: Fire and tragedy - Inside the Prasad trial

Shivneel Kumar and Bryne Permal have been sentenced to life imprisonment fro the murder with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.

Detective Inspector Dave Lynch says the family will never know how Prasad was deceived into withdrawing his life saving of $30,000.

He says there are only three people who know what happened and unfortunately Mr Prasad can't tell.

Dave Lynch says the other two have simply told too many lies.

He says that puts the family in an unfortunate position that there will be something's that will never be known.

Convicted pair show no remorse

Earlier, Justice Geoffrey Venning told Shivneel Kumar and Bryne Permal they killed to keep $30,000 of Mr Prasad's savings, and burnt him to try and cover their tracks.

He told them they are still in denial and entirely without remorse.

"He was still alive and you killed him by burning him to death.

"You had direct murderous intent at the time you assaulted him and rendered him deeply unconscious, which led you to your belief he was dead."

Justice Venning said the pair had continued to deny their involvement and were entirely without remorse.

"The pre-sentence report discloses that you are still in denial. You present as being detached from the offending events."

"You are entirely without remorse for your actions."

"Mr Prasad was a naïve and trusting young man. As Mr Perkins described he seems to have been a thoroughly decent young man. You understood Mr Prasad’s need for friendship and you abused it."

Justice Venning also noted  in his sentencing remarks that Kumar and Permal's "actions throughout the night and in the spending spree that followed displayed a lack of humanity at the least."

Prasad's burnt remains were found near a roadside in south Auckland in January 2013. A guilty verdict was returned in the Auckland High Court in March this year, following three days of deliberations by the jury.