WA man jailed over ex-partner's death

A Perth man who killed a mother-of-four during a vicious assault, then buried her in a shallow grave, has been jailed for 10 years.

Bradley Wayne Harvey stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court accused of murdering his ex-partner Nicolle Bates in February 2012, but the jury instead convicted him of manslaughter.

Harvey punched Ms Bates, stomped on her head and stabbed her during a fight over money.

The 29-year-old woman's body was found buried in a shallow grave at a pine plantation 18 days later.

Justice Michael Corboy said during sentencing that Ms Bates was vulnerable and could not defend herself from the attack.

He added that there was an element of persistence in the assault.

The court heard Ms Bates was lured to a home with a fake drug deal and then Harvey, who had been hiding, confronted her in the kitchen.

Harvey claimed Ms Bates lunged at him, but Justice Corboy said that did not justify his actions.

Justice Corboy said Harvey also disposed of Ms Bates' body in a "callous and disrespectful" way.

Harvey's sentence was backdated to March 2012 and he will be eligible for parole in 2020.

Ms Bates' family were visibly upset by the sentence and one woman verbally abused Harvey when the court adjourned.