A 27-year-old man who has the intellectual age of a 10-year-old child has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail for the manslaughter of Cairns woman China Crawford in far north Queensland.
Ms Crawford's body was found at her unit at Bentley Park in April last year after concerned colleagues reported she had not turned up to work for two days.
Later that week, police searched Richard Clay Dunlop's car where they found some of her belongings.
He was later charged over her death.
Dunlop, from Yorkeys Knob in Cairns, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, interfering with a corpse and stealing.
In sentencing, Judge James Henry said he considered a psychologist's report of Dunlop having an intellectual age of a 10-year-old.
"I accept your disorder will make incarceration more onerous," Justice Henry said.
The court heard the pair had been friends for months, with Ms Crawford wanting more than a platonic relationship with Dunlop.
A series of text messages suggested they met up at her apartment on the night of her death.
The court heard Dunlop resisted several sexual advances from Ms Crawford, which made her angry.
The court was told Ms Crawford then attacked Dunlop, shouting: "Aren't I good enough for you?" and "what kind of a man are you?"
No evidence of prolonged strangulation
However, Justice Henry noted there may have been more of an erotic encounter than what was heard in the court.
In trying to leave the apartment, the court heard Dunlop forced his forearm onto Ms Crawford's throat for a small number of seconds, suffocating her.
Justice Henry said there was no evidence of prolonged strangulation and short-term pressure to the neck could cause death.
Dunlop will be eligible for parole in June next year.
