Remorseless former fugitives Gino and Mark Stocco have both been sentenced to 40 years' in prison for a crime spree that included the cold-blooded murder of 68-year-old Rosario Cimone.
Gino Stocco, 59, faces the possibility of dying in prison, while Mark, 37, won't be eligible for parole until 2045, a NSW Supreme Court judge decided on Friday.
The men showed little emotion when they were sentenced by Justice David Davies.
Mr Cimone's daughter, Maria Perre, wept throughout the lengthy judgment.
"The killing was cold-blooded, callous and without rational justification, albeit it was not planned," Justice Davies said of Mr Cimone's October 2015 murder.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The court heard Gino Stocco shot the property caretaker in the stomach with a pump-action shotgun at his son's urging.
The pair dumped the grandfather's body in scrub, burning his clothes, and stealing some money and his boots.
The murder occurred at a remote Elong Elong property in central west NSW which was being used to cultivate hydronic cannabis.
The Stoccos had been working and hiding out at the property after spending the prior eight years on the run from police for property offences and other crimes.
Mark Stocco told police they killed Mr Cimone after the relationship soured and they feared they would be kicked off the property.
Nine days later, the pair opened fire on highway patrol officers to avoid arrest at Mangoplah, near Wagga Wagga, sparking a massive police manhunt.
They were finally arrested a fortnight later back at the cannabis property after a tip-off from the person who had introduced them to Mr Cimone.
Justice Davies said the Stoccos had never apologised to Mr Cimone's family or to police and had not shown any real remorse.
Their motivation for killing Mr Cimone "was so trivial so as to defy any rational assessment", he said.
"He was a human being, a husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, and he was someone whose family cared about him."
The Stoccos were also sentenced for setting fire in 2014 to two farm sheds at a NSW property where they had previously worked. They were seeking revenge following a perceived slight.
Mark received a minimum sentence of 30 years and Gino 28 years, taking into account his older age.
