The man who brutally raped and murdered Israeli student Aiia Maasarwe has penned a letter of apology to her family.

Codey Herrmann's note was read out in court by his lawyer as he awaits sentencing over the horrific attack on the 21-year-old woman as she made her way home after a night out in Melbourne.

The 20-year-old repeatedly beat Ms Maasarwe over the head with a metal pole and sexually assaulted her.

The man who pleaded guilty to the brutal rape and murder of Israeli student Aiia Maasarwe (pictured) has penned a letter of apology to her family

Codey Herrmann's letter was read out in in court by his lawyer as he awaits sentencing over the horrific attack on the young woman as she made her way home from a Melbourne night out

'I'm sorry,' he said in a letter to his victim's family read to Victoria's Supreme Court by lawyer Tim Marsh on Thursday

He then covered her in flammable WD-40 spray before setting it alight in suburban Melbourne in January.

Herrmann pleaded guilty to the heinous crime in June.

'I'm sorry,' he said in a letter to his victim's family read to Victoria's Supreme Court by lawyer Tim Marsh on Thursday.

'Your daughter didn't deserve such a terrible and tragic thing to happen to her.

'I will try to make amends for the rest of my life.'

He urged others, 'don't give in to hate like I did'.

The apology came as prosecutors asked for a life sentence for the attack upon 21-year-old Ms Maasarwe after she hopped off a tram at Bundoora

The apology came as prosecutors asked for a life sentence for the attack upon Ms Maasarwe after she hopped off a tram at Bundoora.

'We have "an offender who was angry, who has hatred, walking the streets … and acted upon that anger",' Patrick Bourke, the prosecutor, told the court, according to the ABC.

Mr Marsh said Herrmann was put in foster car at a young age after being taken away from his parents.

He told the court deprivation led to a personality disorder which was a factor in the offending.

Mr Bourke said this did not 'fully explain' Herrmann's actions