A man who killed the mother of his unborn child with an axe on the Gold Coast has been sentenced to life in prison, after pleading guilty to her murder just days before he was scheduled to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

Brock Wall bludgeoned his partner Fabiana Palhares to death at her Varsity Lakes home in February 2015 when she was about 11 weeks pregnant.

During sentencing, Justice Ann Lyons described the murder as "chilling, horrific and the stuff of nightmares".

"You had total disregard for her as a person, her dignity as a woman," Justice Lyons said.

Justice Lyons said Wall had terrorised Ms Palhares for months in the lead up to her death, and had previously attacked her knowing she was pregnant.

"You stalked her, spied on her, abused her," Justice Lyons said.

"You became increasingly irrational, jealous and angry.

"You killed a young woman and her child in a prolonged and savage attack."

The court heard Ms Palhares said she wanted the child to have a relationship with Wall but repeatedly told him to get psychological help.

It heard Wall was obsessively jealous and had breached two domestic violence orders, watching her sleep and entering her room to check her phone messages.

The court was told Wall sent her a number of abusive messages and called her saying she was "pushing him in the wrong direction".

Ms Palhares installed security cameras in her home as a result, which later recorded parts of the attack.

Brock Wall bludgeoned his partner Fabiana Palhares to death at her Varsity Lakes home in February 2015. ( ABC News: Tom Forbes )

On the day of the murder, Ms Palhares saw Wall entering her bedroom where she was resting, and called triple-zero before he beat her.

"You then continued your attack in a violent and sustained way with a tomahawk," Justice Lyons told the court.

"I have seen the injuries to Fabiana, no-one deserves to be injured and suffer in that way."

The court heard Wall tried to take his own life in custody, and had written a letter to Ms Palhares saying he felt no sorrow for killing her.

"I strangely feel relieved you are dead," the letter said.

"I don't even care or miss you."

Wall was handed two life sentences for the killing of Ms Palhares and her unborn baby, which he will serve concurrently. He will be eligible for parole in about 16 years due to time already served.

The court heard the 34-year-old's murder had a devastating impact on her family.

Ms Palhares's brother Raphael and his wife flew in from Brazil for the sentencing hearing on Monday.

Fabiana's brother Raphael hugs a supporter outside the Supreme Court. ( ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic )

In a victim impact statement read by Judge Lyons, Mr Palhares noted his sister was such a "bright, courageous spirit" living her dream in Australia.

"Our work and our lives are no longer the same. We are not the same people," the statement said.

"Our precious Fabiana spent the last moments of her life in absolute terror.

"It's you who has to live with that and we hope it' something that comes to you every single day for the rest of your life just as it comes to us."

Outside court Mr Palhares said how difficult the last three years had been for the family, particularly for his parents who have not been able to travel to Australia.

Bianca Gouveia said Ms Palhares' death had deeply affected the Brazilian community on the Gold Coast. ( AAP: Dave Hunt )

In his victim impact statement tendered to the court, Mr Palhares said he could still hear the shouts of his mother when she found out Fabiana had been killed.

"She cried desperately to find out what had happened to her daughter," he said.

"I still remember the horrible sensation of having to call my dad to tell him his pregnant daughter had been killed.

"Those moments are etched in our minds, but it feels weird because we still have the feeling that this is all a nightmare and everything is okay, and that Fabiana and her little baby are fine."

He said if he could say anything to Wall he would simply ask "why" he did what he did.

Outside court, Ms Palhares' former house mate Bianca Gouveia condemned Wall, saying his actions had deeply impacted the Brazilian community on the Gold Coast.

"I remember hearing you say how excited you were about becoming a dad and I remember you and Fabiana were so happy with the news, and yet afterwards you took not just her life, but the baby's life too," she said.

"You walked away and left her [to] die. I hope the time you serve in prison for this gives you time to think about this and how far your action has spread."