A father from Queensland's Sunshine Coast who fatally threw his toddler against a wall because he would not go to sleep has been sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison.

Key points: Shane Akehurst pleaded guilty to manslaughter and torture after initially being charged with murder

Shane Akehurst pleaded guilty to manslaughter and torture after initially being charged with murder He violently threw his 21-month-old son at his bed because he would not sleep

He violently threw his 21-month-old son at his bed because he would not sleep He was sentenced to 12 years' jail and will need to serve at least 80 per cent before being eligible for parole

Shane Akehurst pleaded guilty to manslaughter and torture in the Supreme Court in Brisbane last month after his murder charge was downgraded earlier in the year.

The 37-year-old violently threw his 21-month-old son Corby at his bed, causing him to hit his head on a timber wall at their Kin Kin home in 2015.

The boy became brain dead and his life support was turned off two days later.

An MRI revealed Corby was covered in 81 injuries including bruises, abrasions and fractures.

Akehurst had also tortured the child over a four-month period prior to his death.

Justice Martin Burns described the offending as "deliberate cruelty" and "brutal animosity".

He said Akehurst denied he caused the injuries in his first two interviews with police and then eventually came clean.

"You admitted that you threw your son with force, probably with everything you had," Justice Burns said.

"The child was restless and refused to go to sleep … you got angry with his behaviour. You told police … you intended to hurt him.

"You indicated you didn't care at that point because you were so angry."

Justice Burns said Akehurst admitted he had anger problems and told police he had "never bonded with Corby".

"Your responsibility as Corby's father was to care for him, to nurture him, to keep him safe from harm and to love him," Justice Burns said.

"Instead, and without any compunction, you subjected him to a persistent course of deliberate cruelty including multiple acts of violence.

"It is a horrifying aspect of this case … that the older fractures of the ribs you caused had the effect of remodelling his chest cavity.

"I can only imagine what unremitting pain and suffering Corby was forced to endure at your hands."

Outside court, Corby's aunt Tanya Jeffrey said she was disappointed with the sentence.

"He's going to get out and get a second chance at life. Corby hasn't got that chance," she said.

"It should have been life, the book should have been thrown at him.

"It was terrible, horrible … just thinking what he went through, the pain he would have been in."

Corby's aunty Tanya Jeffrey (middle right) says she is disappointed with the sentence. ( ABC News: Ellie Sibson )

'You may die in jail'

The court heard Akehurst was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2014 and had surgery.

Justice Burns said Akehurst was under considerable financial pressure and suffered stress from being a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) worker, and was absent from the family home for extended periods of time.

Shane Akehurst pleaded guilty to torture and manslaughter last month. ( ABC News )

But Justice Burns said: "There is no hard evidence that your mental health was affected at the time of this offending."

The court heard the tumour had come back and Akehurst could have a life expectancy of about a decade.

He will continue to receive chemotherapy for up to two years while in custody.

"You may die in jail," Justice Burns said.

He said he had taken into account the fact that Akehurst's disease would make jail "more burdensome".

Akehurst must serve at least 80 per cent of his sentence behind bars before being eligible to apply for parole.

He has been in custody since March 2015.