Court told of affect domestic violence

The sentencing hearing of a violent man convicted of murdering his partner has been told of the community impact of domestic violence in a statement described as a world-first.

Last month, a Supreme Court jury found Michael Suve McDonald guilty of murdering 25-year-old Lana Towers, who sustained 50 separate blows to her body during a prolonged attack at their Adelaide home in May 2013.

McDonald, 33, had a history of violence against Ms Towers and was twice charged with assaulting her in the months before her death.

At his sentence hearing on Friday, SA's Victims Rights Commissioner Michael O'Connell read out a statement, on behalf of the community, on the impact of domestic violence.

Police were called to more than 10,000 domestic violence incidents between June 2012 and 2013, but many incidents went unreported.

One woman was killed in Australia every week in such circumstances, he added.

Speaking outside court, Mr O'Connell said the presentation of a social impact statement on behalf of the community to a sentence hearing was unique in the world.

"It was about reminding the court this did not only affect an individual, it affected the family, it affected the community more largely, and that cost will be borne for many more years to come," he said.

"This is a bold new step forward in helping provide information to the court about particular types of crime and the impacts they have."

He believed the best way to stop domestic violence was to educate children in schools about the issue and about having respectful relationships.

McDonald will be sentenced on December 22.