The daughter of a woman strangled at a Sunshine Coast resort on Valentine’s Day has welcomed a 12-year jail term for the killer, saying “justice has been served”.
Jeffrey James Godfrey, 53, faced Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his wife of 27 years.
Vanessa Godfrey, 46, was killed at the Pelican Waters Resort on February 14, 2022.
Justice Glenn Martin said Godfrey’s wife had trusted him and he had “betrayed that trust in the ultimate way by killing her” while affected by drug-induced psychosis and paranoia.
“You were intent on her death. You strangled her and then you ensured that she died when you cut her wrists,” Justice Martin said.
Godfrey was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with a requirement to serve 80 per cent of that time in custody for committing a serious violent offence.
Mrs Godfrey’s daughter Olivia said outside court she felt a sense of “relief” as the sentence length was “way better than expected”.
“It’s a massive weight off our shoulders to know that justice has been served, to a degree,” she said.
She said her mother’s death had been “horrific” and unexpected.
“I’ll remember my mum to be caring, loving, there for all of us as a whole. Absolutely beautiful, friendly and just loved everyone,” the daughter said.
Inside court, Godfrey sat in the dock with his hands in his lap and wearing a white short-sleeved shirt with a floral pattern.
Godfrey had originally been charged with murder but a mental health court determined he had diminished responsibility.
Justice Martin said Godfrey had attacked his wife, who had posed no physical threat to him, after forming the delusional belief she had stolen his licence and Medicare card.
“You killed the deceased with the intention of ending her life but you suffered an abnormality of mind that substantially impaired your capacity to know you ought not to,” he said.
Justice Martin said Godfrey’s mental illness had been brought about by his own decision to engage in heavy and long-term methamphetamine use.
Godfrey was not on meth at the time but previously spent $3000 a week on smoking and injecting the drug, and had consumed cannabis from a young age.
“The absolute folly of consuming illicit drugs is a message that should be made clear again and again,” Justice Martin said.
Justice Martin said he was concerned by psychiatric reports that found Godfrey had not been able to acknowledge his actions.
“This may be some for of defence mechanism on your part … you have failed to embrace or understand the reality of what you have done,” he said.
“It does not provide comfort for your rehabilitation.”
Godfrey will be eligible to apply for parole after serving six years and seven months having already spent 1081 days in custody on remand.
Mrs Godfrey’s family members and supporters briefly clapped and said “yes” when the sentence was handed down.
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