A 37 year-old Ulverstone man who stabbed a former Queensland woman to death in Ulverstone more than two years ago has been sentenced to life in prison.
Colin William Drake has previously pleaded guilty in the Burnie Supreme Court to the murder of 23 year-old Gabrielle Marshal in the early hours of December 13th, 2021.
The court had earlier heard Drake, who lived 200 metres away and was supposed to be under supervised care, snuck out and broke into the house where Ms Marshall she was staying with a friend.
Drake stabbed the young mother 17 times while she was sleeping on a mattress on the floor.
Ms Marshall, who had a six year-old daughter, had only been in Tasmania for a few weeks at the time of her murder.
The other woman also had young children aged two and three in the house at the time.
The court heard Drake has a criminal record which included aggravated burglary and arson and he had been in and out of mental health care facilities.
Justice Tamara Jago told Drake he presented a lifelong danger to the community and the randomness of his attack highlighted that danger.
She said the case fell into the worst murder category.
Her honour sentenced Drake to serve 20 years in prison before he would be eligible for parole, at which time the parole board will judge if he is fit to be released.
