A Queensland man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of murdering a pregnant McDonald's worker more than three years ago.
A Brisbane Supreme Court jury on Monday convicted Andrew Michael Burke of 27-year-old Joan Ryther's rape and murder, as well as killing her unborn child at Logan Central in May 2013.
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Joan Ryther's killer showed 'no remorse'
Andrew Burke is found guilty of murdering Joan Ryther at Logan in 2013, leaving her husband with "no reason to live". Nine News
Justice Debra Mullins sentenced him to a head term of life imprisonment for murder, opting not to alter the standard 20-year non-parole period despite prosecution submissions based on the viciousness of the crimes.
It came after Mrs Ryther's husband, Cory Ryther, gave an impassioned victim impact statement to the court in which he described the "inhuman act" that robbed him of his wife and unborn child.
"We meant no harm ... to anyone. We just wanted to live," he said, facing Burke as he stood in the dock.
"I have learnt how to hate. Thanks for teaching me that."
Mr Ryther said he had battled feelings of guilt since his wife's death and slept on the couch because he couldn't bare to sleep in the couple's bed.
Outside court, lead investigator Graham Pannowitz said Mr Ryther had continued to struggle with his wife's horrific killing in the years following her death but was happy with the sentence and verdict.
"It's unfortunate that by attending the court to support his wife he's heard some graphic details of what occurred," he said.
Senior police had also suffered after being exposed to the "confronting" crime scene, he said.
Burke was also sentenced to terms of 14 years and five years for the other charges, with Justice Mullins declaring more than three years in pre-sentence custody as time already served.
AAP