Daughter finds relief in lengthy sentence for mother's death

The daughter of a man who strangled his estranged wife during a meth-induced psychosis believes "justice has been served" after her father was sentenced.

Jeffrey James Godfrey, 53, was sentenced in Brisbane Supreme Court to serve 12 years in jail for the manslaughter of Vanessa Godfrey, 46, in February 2022.

While the husband and wife had separated months before Ms Godfrey's death, the pair had been enjoying a three-night stay at Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast for a friend's birthday.

During sentencing, Justice Glenn Martin said the couple had enjoyed dinner together before returning to their room. The court was told the pair woke up about 5am on February 14 and Ms Godfrey made them coffee before asking Godfrey to give her a neck massage using Deep Heat to ease some pain.

Justice Martin said Godfrey had "formed the view" his driver's licence and Medicare card had gone missing from his wallet the previous night and he believed Ms Godfrey had "stolen them".

The court was told while Ms Godfrey sat between Godfrey's legs for the massage, her estranged partner asked her questions about whether their life had "been a lie". During this questioning, Godfrey began to apply pressure to her neck from behind to the point Ms Godfrey lost consciousness.

Justice Martin said Godfrey believed the mother of his children had died and "let go of her" to go sit on a chair. The court was told Godfrey then thought he saw Ms Godfrey's chest move and thought she was breathing.

Godfrey then grabbed a knife and cut her arms before he took some valium and started drinking rum. Justice Martin said hotel management entered the room at 3pm to perform a welfare check and found Ms Godfrey on the bed "surrounded in blood" and Godfrey asleep on the floor.

Justice Martin said while Godfrey had a history of drug use, including meth, there was no evidence he'd been using drugs at the time of Ms Godfrey's death. The court was told by the age of 40, Godfrey was using meth almost every day and spending about $3000 a week on drugs.

However, his drug use, which spanned more than 20 years, had caused a sense of ongoing paranoia. Justice Martin said Godfrey's "amorality of mind" at the time had impaired his capacity to know what he was doing was wrong.

"At the time you killed Vanessa, you were angry and it's likely you held her in a delusional regard," he said.

Justice Martin said while Godfrey's drug use had "substantially impaired" his judgment, he at no point made efforts to help his wife despite her being unconscious or bleeding.

"She'd put herself in a vulnerable position and you took advantage of that and killed her," he said. "You killed your wife in circumstances that you could not have felt at risk ... you knew what you were doing but could not know what you were doing was wrong.

If she had shown signs of life, you did not attempt to save her. You were determined she would die."

Justice Martin said Godfrey's actions had "deprived" his adult children of their mother. Godfrey was sentenced to 12 years in jail and must serve at least 80 per cent of his sentence as a serious violent offender.

Outside court, Olivia Godfrey said she felt relief her father had been given a lengthy sentence for her mother's death. "It was a way better outcome than what was expected," she said.

"It's a massive weight off our shoulders, knowing that justice was served in this instance considering that my mum, this just was all so unexpected."

Olivia said she'd always remember her mum as caring and loving. "I came from a total normal family, great childhood, great parents who provided everything and it all came down to poor choices as they got older which led to such horrific actions," she said.

"I'll remember my mum to be caring, loving, there for all of us as a whole. (She was) absolutely beautiful, friendly and just loved everyone."