The High Court in Rotorua has heard Martin Schofield's daughters are now terrified of him.

The 49-year-old was today sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 11-years, for bludgeoning Katrina Drummond to death with a hammer in a jealous rage.

The pair's eldest daughter Lana Schofield's victim impact statement was read out in court.

She said she and her two sisters have had trouble sleeping, concentrating and are frightened to be alone.

Ms Schofield said he has written letters to all of them since he's been in prison, they fear for his contacts outside of prison and are unsure they will ever feel safe again.

The police summary of facts said that Schofield and Drummond had got into an argument that afternoon in April, and Ms Drummond said she was seeing another man.

Schofield became enraged and went out to the garage where he carved derogatory words in the victim's car bonnet, slashed the tyres with a knife and cut the seats.

He then grabbed a claw hammer, walked into their bedroom and bashed Ms Drummond in the back of the head at least seven times.

The attack caused fatal injuries including a severe open injury to her brain and skull that was 18 cm wide.