Man who killed wife asks for forgiveness

A Sydney man who stabbed his wife to death in their home has made a plea for forgiveness.

Nacanieli Lutu got into an argument with Salaseini Batirau, 46, at their Macquarie Fields home in Sydney on January 20, 2013.

Lutu then used a kitchen knife to fatally stab his wife.

The Fijian has pleaded guilty to murder.

In Friday's sentencing hearing in the NSW Supreme Court, Lutu, through an interpreter, asked the judge and his family for forgiveness.

In a letter read to the court by his barrister, Chrissa Loukas, Lutu said his actions were an accident and he was not thinking clearly on the day his wife died.

Crown prosecutor Terry Thorpe told the court on Friday Ms Batirau must have known at some stage during the attack Lutu was trying to kill her.

"The crown submits there must have been a period ... where she would have been terrified by what was being done to her," he said.

"The crown says although this was not premeditated... it was a sustained and ferocious attack."

The court heard Lutu's actions followed concern Ms Batirau might go to the police with assault allegations.

Mr Thorpe submitted Lutu's sentence should reflect society's abhorrence of violence against women.

He said there was community concern about the number of women injured and killed in domestic situations.

Lutu will be sentenced on April 11.