Anthony John Phillips sentenced to life in jail for killing wife Joan Mary with a hammer at Bribie Island In the Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday, a jury found Anthony John Phillips, 71, guilty of murdering Joan Mary Phillips, 81, at their Bribie Island home on June 19 2011. Justice Ann Lyons told the court Mrs Phillips was killed after she "abused" her husband for being "lazy" and not doing any housework. The court heard the couple, who were married for 26 years, were involved in a "dynamic and ongoing" physical struggle after Mrs Phillips struck her husband with a hammer. Mrs Phillips was found with injuries to her face, chest and head. She suffered at least five blows to her head from a "blunt instrument such as a hammer," the court heard. Justice Lyons said one of the blows to the head was "inflicted at a different point of time." "There is clear evidence Mrs Phillips survived the initial attack by a number of hours," she said. It is this, in part, that weighs heavily on the family. There was also evidence Mrs Phillips was smothered. A victim impact statement from Mrs Phillips' children was tendered in court and Justice Lyons drew from it in her sentencing remarks. "Knowing the pain that mum suffered still to this day tears us apart," Justice Lyons read to the court. She said the family were "shocked beyond belief" that a man they had trusted to care for their mother had murdered her. Not a day passes that they don't think of their mother. The court heard there was no ongoing animosity between the couple. Justice Lyons told Phillips his wife dedicated "great attention caring for you." This included Mrs Phillips, who weighed just 44kg when she died, rubbing cream into her husband's legs three times a day to treat a medical condition. A letter by Phillips was tendered to the court in which he wrote he could only remember "pieces" of what happened. Justice Lyons said Phillips wrote he had the "deepest remorse" for his actions and hoped his penalty would comfort his wife's family. Justice Lyons told Phillips: "You have killed someone you loved and someone deeply loved by their family." Phillips was sentenced to life in jail with 811 days already served. Outside court Mrs Phillips' family said they were happy with the outcome of the trial.