The mother of a man stabbed to death by his wife has told a Queensland court that pain and grief have been her constant companions for the last three years.
Chris Catling was stabbed to death by his wife, Kerrie Lee Catling, in a lounge chair at their Rockhampton home in March 2021.
In an emotional statement read to the court, Mr Catling's mother, Desley Catling said: "My dream would be to see my son in front of me".
"My dream would be to have my son give me one of his big bear hugs," she said.
"I will miss him forever."
Catling has been in custody since her arrest in August 2021.
On Tuesday, in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton, the mother of four, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this month, was sentenced to nine years behind bars.
During Catling's sentencing the court heard her husband died from a single stab wound.
"You've taken a person's life, so it's the most serious offence," Justice Graeme Crow told the court.
'So torn, every day'
In a victim impact statement, Mr Catling's daughter, Abby Catling, told the court "our lives changed dramatically" three years ago.
"Not only had we just lost our dad, we were also about to start the horrible process of completing statements and going through the process of mum being convicted," she said.
"We went from having both our parents present in our lives to not have them present at all, which impacted us all tremendously."
Abby told the court "the trauma from the past will forever live with us".
"I don't think anyone will truly understand how hard this has been for us," she said.
"I love my mum and my dad so much and feel so torn, every day, over all of this.
"Both mum and dad have made bad decisions and caused myself and my three siblings trauma, but they are still my mum and dad and my love for them will never go away."
'Constant companion'
Desley also addressed her daily struggle in her victim impact statement.
"Outwardly, we function, socialise, smile and participate in life," she said.
"But underneath the pain and grieving are a constant companion.
"If only he was here with us and we could be enjoying life as it should be."
Catling will be eligible for parole on August 2 this year.
She remained calm when Justice Crow handed down his sentence.