A man who stomped his girlfriend to death in Broome has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 17 years.

Les McLarty had been found guilty of murdering 23-year-old Ms Chapman in March last year.

McLarty had admitted to attacking the woman but claimed he didn't intend to kill her.

The court heard McLarty had four prior convictions for assaulting and wounding Ms Chapman.

The 21-year-old will have to serve at least 17 years, backdated to March last year.

It was on March 18, 2017 when Ms Chapman's body was found in an alcove at a shopping centre.

The court heard McLarty and Ms Chapman, whose first name has not been used for cultural reasons, had been in a relationship for several years.

McLarty couldn't remember what caused argument

The court was told an alcohol-fuelled argument on March 17 descended into violence, and McLarty repeatedly kicked and jumped on Ms Chapman before leaving her to die.

Ms Chapman was found dead at the bottom of this staircase after McLarty beat her to death. ( ABC Kimberley: Sam Tomlin )

The convicted man couldn't remember what the argument was about because he was too drunk.

Defence counsel Tony Hager said his client had been drinking alcohol every day in Broome, and the deceased was also a heavy drinker.

He said McLarty and the deceased woman had sex at the scene before the argument, and subsequent assault.

Mr Hager said his client was "aware of the hurt he's caused", including to himself, as he'd lost the person he loved most in life.

Justice Lindy Jenkins said McLarty had "chronic emotional deprivation" due to his parents' alcohol abuse issues, and the death of his grandmother when he was 13.

He had his own substance abuse issues from a young age, a lack of education and had not been employed.

On top of the assault and wounding offences, McLarty also had burglary and stealing convictions.

Justice Jenkins said that while she accepted he did not intend to kill Ms Chapman, he had intended to cause injuries readily identifiable as likely to endanger life.

She also said she took into account the fact that McLarty failed to get medical attention for her.

She told the court the fact that McLarty was likely to be assaulted by relatives of the deceased when he was released was not a mitigating factor.

Justice Jenkins said Ms Chapman was a vulnerable person and drunken violence against Aboriginal women was taken very seriously by the law.