A young man who murdered Inspector Bryson Anderson with a hunting knife following a protracted siege at his mother's property has been sentenced to at least 26 years in prison.
Mitchell Barbieri, who escaped the mandatory life sentence reserved for cop killers, broke down as he was sentenced to a maximum 35 years at the Supreme Court on Thursday.
His mother Fiona, meanwhile was sentenced to a minimum of seven years and six months for the manslaughter of the officer and various other offences.
Inspector Bryson Anderson's wife, brothers and parents, along with other close family and friends filled the upper gallery of the Supreme Court in Darlinghurst for the pair's sentencing.
Downstairs, his uniformed colleagues from his local area command packed the seats to hear about the final moments of their much-loved mate.
In handing down his sentence, Justice Robert Hulme began by paying tribute to the "loyal, caring, humble, ethical, honest ... good man".
Insp Anderson had visited the Barbieri's rural Oakville property in Sydney's northwest on December 6, 2012, after reports Mitchell had been shooting arrows at his neighbour.
Following a protracted siege, Mitchell lunged toward Insp Anderson.
"He plunged a hunting knife deep into the officer's chest causing virtually immediate death," Justice Hulme said.
On the day their trial was due to start this year, Mitchell pleaded guilty to murder while his mother Fiona, 46, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of substantial impairment.
Fiona sat expressionless as Justice Hulme recounted how she was once a senior executive at American Express, but by about 2008 had experienced late-onset paranoid schizophrenia.
She became increasingly paranoid she was being persecuted by police and political leaders, and her life began to fall apart.
By the time of Insp Anderson's death, Mitchell had taken on his mother's delusions.
Since being in prison, he was unable to understand what he had been thinking and was "heartbroken", the court heard.
But Justice Hulme said although the Barbieris regretted what had happened, he was not persuaded either was genuinely remorseful because they had not accepted responsibility.
Mitchell, he found, had also intended to kill Insp Anderson that day.
"Of all the weapons that he could have taken up, he chose the one most capable of inflicting a lethal injury."
But he said due to Mitchell's cognitive impairment, he should not be subject to the mandatory life sentence reserved for people who murdered police.
He sentenced him to a minimum of 26 years and a maximum of 35, making him eligible for release in 2038.
His mother was sentenced to a minimum of seven-and-a-half years and a maximum of 10, which included a number of other offences, including using an offensive weapon.
Outside court Insp Anderson's wife Donna said while the outcome signalled the end of the legal process, "we will still wake tomorrow without Bryson".
"Not one of us has been left unchanged by this senseless act."
Flanked by their children she said Thursday's decision was not the outcome they believed would have been achieved in the days and months after her husband's murder.
She said they were all disappointed but acknowledged no sentence would have been enough.
Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione thanked all involved in bringing the legal matter to an end.
"As a big family we are hurting today but at least it brings some closure and for that we are grateful."
