Posted September 07, 2016 20:23:58

Photo: Jo La Spina was found dead in a townhouse at Bingil Bay, near Mission Beach. (Supplied: Micha Beckert)

A South African national has been sentenced to life in jail for the murder and rape of popular far north Queensland photographer, Jo La Spina.

There were cries from the public gallery as the guilty verdict was read out.

Musa Brandon Ngwira, 34, had pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, murder and interfering with a corpse over the death of the 26-year-old.

Ms La Spina was found naked and dead in the shower of a townhouse at Bingil Bay near Mission Beach, north of Townsville, on April 19, 2014.

The eight-day trial heard from more than a dozen witnesses.

In sentencing, Justice Jim Henry told Ngwira that Ms La Spina's death would have been terrifying.

Outside court, Ms La Spina's uncle, Phillip Spokes, said his family would never be the same.

"This day hasn't changed anything — Jo still isn't here," he said.

Photo: The Bingal Bay townhouse where Jo La Spina was killed. (ABC News: Josh Bavas)

Topics: courts-and-trials, murder-and-manslaughter, law-crime-and-justice, bingil-bay-4852, qld, cairns-4870, townsville-4810, mission-beach-4852