<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man who strangled his ex-partner in a hotel room made a pathetic attempt to revive her before making a cowardly escape.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mary Benedito, 25, died in hospital after being violently assaulted by Reo Te Whetu Marama Marsh at a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/gold-coast" rel="" target="" title="Gold Coast"><span>Gold Coast</span></a><span> apartment complex on November 27, 2021.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marsh, 39, faced </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="" title="Brisbane Supreme Court"><span>Brisbane Supreme Court</span></a><span> today for sentencing after pleading guilty to murder.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mexico-travel-warning-updated-after-drug-kingpin-killed/23bbf797-93ea-4238-8ce7-842a00ae22e9" target="_blank"><strong><span>Warning to Aussies in tourist hotspot after drug boss killed in shootout</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LATEST:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/chris-baghsarian-police-search-turns-to-glenorie-bushland/d43cafd9-53ed-44e2-b9e7-275eb3d90441" target="_blank"><strong><span>Torched car found in search for Sydney grandfather forensically linked to abandoned 'stronghold'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Benedito had been subject to blunt force assaults and died of a brain injury caused by manual strangulation, Justice Lincoln Crowley heard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She had significant bruising to (her) arms, forearms, shoulders and fingers referred to as defensive injuries," crown prosecutor Nathan Crane said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/reo-te-whetu-marama-marsh-court-updates-family-of-mary-benedito-describe-toll-of-womans-murder/49243fe1-3409-4832-b30f-bd04c845e76a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple were separated and had been arguing about Benedito's plan to move to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-zealand" rel="" target="" title="New Zealand"><span>New Zealand</span></a><span> and her seeing other men.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's no explanation for his conduct," Crane said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple could be seen on CCTV earlier in their holiday on the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Gold Coast"><span>Gold Coast</span></a><span> swimming and shopping.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marsh fled their hotel room after fatally wounding Benedito and travelled to a suburb in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/brisbane" rel="" target="" title="Brisbane"><span>Brisbane</span></a><span> while attempting to evade a police search.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He attempted to run a short distance from his arrest," Crane said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Crane said Marsh had pleaded guilty to murder on the basis that he assaulted Benedito with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/lardner-victoria-teenager-assaulted-antisemitic-incident/c7757698-2e51-4fdd-b47e-d85abb099af2" target="_blank"><strong><span>Teen assaulted in suspected antisemitic attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LATEST:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/jackie-o-henderson-steps-away-from-kyle-and-jackie-o-show-temporarily/6a699ce4-0884-4845-a501-577faf318752" target="_blank"><strong><span>Jackie 'O' taking a break from KIIS after brutal on-air clash with Kyle Sandilands</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Benedito brought warmth, energy and care to any space she entered, her cousin Josiah Benedito-Taotafa said in a victim impact statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She was humorous, totally confident in her values and deeply compassionate," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Benedito's family had faced long hours moving between hope and dread as she lay in intensive care for three days before the decision to turn off life support.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My family has seen their faith shaken, their health decline and a collective struggle to navigate grief, shock and trauma," Benedito-Taotafa said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Benedito's sister said she never thought she would have to bury her younger sibling.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Her greatest achievement was being a mum, and he took that from her," the sister said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Benedito's aunty Maria, who had helped raise her as a child, said she would always be heartbroken.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Seeing her black and blue with tubes keeping her alive broke our family into pieces," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marsh had daily regrets and self-hatred for taking what could not be replaced, he wrote in a letter to Benedito's family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The unfairness of my actions are too severe to ask for forgiveness," Marsh said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marsh's barrister said his guilty pleas had saved the family the trauma of a trial and he was genuinely remorseful.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Justice Crowley told Marsh he had dragged Benedito back to their hotel room and made a "pathetic" attempt to revive her before his cowardly escape when paramedics arrived.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You used substantial force to do so. You smothered her at the same time you strangled her," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"All this happened because you became angry ... you sought to control her life."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marsh was sentenced to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/law" rel="" target="" title="life imprisonment"><span>life imprisonment</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He will be eligible for parole in under 16 years due to time already served in custody.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Support is available by 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>