SYDNEY (Australia) - THE former driver of Australia's once-highest flying stockbroker was imprisoned on Thursday for 17 years for murdering his girlfriend by throwing her off a cliff in Sydney and claiming it was suicide.

Gordon Wood, 46, will spend at least 13 years in prison for the slaying of model Caroline Byrne, 24, in 1995 in what became one of Australia's longest-running and most notorious murder cases in years.

Wood, who was arrested in London after he fled the country following the killing, was convicted by a jury two weeks ago after a three-month trial. Handing down the sentence on Thursday, Justice Graham Barr took into account time Wood had already served and set October 2021 as a parole date.

At the time of the killing, Wood was among a close coterie of associates of Rene Rivkin, a wealthy stockbroker who died in 2005 in disgrace, two years after being found guilty of insider trading.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged Wood killed Ms Byrne because she knew too much about Rivkin's business dealings.

In sentencing on Thursday, Justice Graham Barr said Wood killed Ms Byrne 'in a rage' after a long argument.

Wood has indicated through lawyers that he will appeal against his conviction. -- AP