Shaun Robert Sturgess to stand trial for murder of Jacqueline Sturgess

A man who allegedly bludgeoned his estranged wife to death with a 1.8kg sledgehammer will stand trial for her murder.

A man who allegedly bludgeoned his estranged wife to death with a 1.8kg sledgehammer and left her to die in a pool of her own blood will stand trial for her murder.

Shaun Robert Sturgess was charged with the murder of Jacqueline Sturgess, 45, after police found her bloodied body inside their family Narangba home, north of Brisbane, in April 2020.

Police discovered the 45-year-old woman lying face down in a pool of her own blood during a welfare check at the house.

Police were called to the Narangba home to conduct a welfare check in April 2020.

Mr Sturgess has previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter; however, the Director of Public Prosecutions office has rejected the plea.

Instead, Mr Sturgess will stand trial for murder.

It will be alleged in court that Mr Sturgess murdered his estranged wife by striking her on the back of the skull with the sledgehammer and left her lifeless body for nearly 24 hours as he went to get drunk.

Investigators charged Shaun Sturgess with murder after his estranged wife was found at the Narangba home.

Crown prosecutor Chris Cook told Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday that he expected the trial to last five days.

Justice Peter Callaghan set the trial for February 26 and listed it for six days to accommodate other separate trials listed for the same week.

Mr Sturgess remains in custody on remand ahead of the 2024 trial.