A 38-year-old man with a history of domestic violence has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years' jail for unlawfully killing his de facto partner in the West Australian town of Meekatharra.

Key points: Man who had 'history of violence' pushed his partner, who fell and hit her head on metal bed frame and died

Man who had 'history of violence' pushed his partner, who fell and hit her head on metal bed frame and died He called for help immediately but she died in hospital

He called for help immediately but she died in hospital Man convicted of manslaughter, will serve four-and-a-half years before eligible for parole

Ronald Roy Mippy pushed the woman, also 38, during an argument in the bedroom of their home in July 2014.

She fell and hit her head on the metal bed frame.

Mippy immediately called for help and the woman was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital, but she died in hospital a few days later.

The Supreme Court was told Mippy had at least three prior convictions for bashing his partners, including an assault in 2005 in which the victim suffered a broken arm and facial injuries.

He also had a conviction in 1997 for throwing a knife at an unknown complainant, who suffered an injury to an eye and was left permanently blind.

Justice Stephen Hall said the prior convictions led him to conclude that Mippy had "a propensity to violence", in particular "a propensity for violence in a domestic context".

The court was told Mippy had a disadvantaged background and was exposed to "a great deal of domestic violence" when he was growing up.

He also had a problem with alcohol and on the day of the killing, both he and his partner had been drinking.

However Justice Hall said the victim "was entitled to, as all people, are, feel safe in their home" and she had been "the subject of violence at the hands of someone who should have been there to protect her, not harm her".

Justice Hall accepted that Mippy was remorseful, that he had not intended to kill his partner and that he immediately regretted what he had done, but he said a penalty had to be imposed to deter others from such domestic violence.

Mippy, convicted of manslaughter, will have to serve four-and-a-half years before he will be eligible for parole.

With time already served, his earliest release date will be August 2019.