QLD murderers hold key to family's closure

Closure for the family of murdered gold prospector Bruce Schuler is solely in the hands of the married couple who killed him, a Queensland judge says.

The 48-year-old's body has not been found in the three years since he was shot by Stephen Struber and Dianne Wilson-Struber on their remote Cape York station.

In sentencing the Palmerville Station owners to life in prison on Friday, Justice James Henry said the married murderers had the power to bring closure to the Schuler family by revealing the whereabouts of the slain man's remains.

"For as long as you do nothing about that, you continue to affirm your detachment from the civilised standards of our society," he said.

Struber has repeatedly denied knowing anything about Mr Schuler's disappearance.

During the trial he said he and his wife were working at a dam when three prospectors who had been camping with Mr Schuler heard gunshots.

None of the prospectors heard Mr Schuler scream.

One, Daniel Bidner, told the trial he ducked for cover when he saw a person he thought was Wilson-Struber pull a gun from a ute.

Another, Tremain Anderson, said he was "100 per cent" sure he saw Wilson-Struber in the passenger seat.

Both men told the court they heard a metal clang after the shots while a third prospector, Kevin Groth, heard a thud "like something being thrown in the back of a ute."

It took a jury four hours to convict the husband and wife.

Justice Henry said it was likely the pair perceived Mr Schuler to be trespassing on their property and first shot at him to hurt or scare him.

They then made a "probably panicked but truly dreadful decision to pursue and shoot again".

The pair sat through numerous victim impact statements from emotional family members including Mr Schuler's daughter, Lisa, who asked: "Who is going to walk me down the aisle now?"

Outside court, Mr Schuler's wife, Fiona Splitt, said his family had previously gone to the station to dig for remains and would not rest until he was brought home.

She said the Strubers had got what they deserved but their punishment was not as bad as what they did to her husband.

"It would be great if everyone could stop all the violence so no one has to go through what we have been going through," she told reporters, with her children by her side.

"Can't everyone just get along with each other and stop."

Mr Schuler's family and loved ones filled the courtroom and applauded as the sentences were handed down.

Struber and Wilson-Struber will be eligible for parole in 15 years, minus time already served.