Kim Richmond murder trial: Cory Jefferies sentenced to life in prison

Cory Jefferies has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his former partner Kim Richmond.

He will be eligible for parole after 11 years.

Ms Richmond's mother, Raywynne Richmond had strong words for Jefferies at the sentencing.

"You may have fathered Kim's children. But you are not fit to be a father," she said. "May you rot in prison as you left Kim to rot in a lake."

Ms Richmond's body was found in a ute pulled from Lake Arapuni in southern Waikato last year, 11 months after she disappeared.

The pair had been having relationship issues before her death after it was revealed Ms Richmond was having an intimate relationship with the couple's neighbour Alfrons Te Brake.

Crown prosecutor Ross Douch said when Jefferies found out about the relationship, he confronted Mr Te Brake, telling him: "I just want to f**king kill the bitch".

Jefferies had admitted to killing her, but argued that it was manslaughter, not murder.

Mr Douch told the jury there was clear murderous intent, while defence lawyer Thomas Sutcliffe said Cory Jefferies acted out of desperation.

A jury took just over six and a half hours to come to a unanimous decision that Jefferies was guilty of murder in July 2018.

At the time, Newshub reporter Jared McCulloch said Jefferies was "very unemotional" after the murder verdict was announced at Hamilton's High Court.

McCulloch told RadioLIVE there were gasps from the public gallery as the ruling was announced, and Ms Richmond's mother was reported to be in no state to speak.

Newshub.