Belinda Leone Colbran smiled at her boyfriend Nathan Thomas Smith moments before the pair were sentenced for the murder of Aaron Matthew Monaco.
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The lovers were each handed 24-year jail terms for the “cruel and violent” killing of Mr Monaco at Parua Road, Newnham in 2016.
Justice Gregory Geason described Smith and Colbran’s actions as callous and having total disregard for another human being.
The victim’s sister, Holly Mason-White, was in court every day throughout Colbran’s trial and read a victim impact statement during sentencing submissions.
Outside the Supreme Court on Thursday, Ms Mason-White and her family said they were relieved the case was over.
Ms Mason-White described her brother as a kind, gentle man who would do anything for those he cared about.
“His murder was brutal and senseless and we will live with the impact of it forever,” she said.
“The sentences handed down today give us some measure of relief that justice has been carried out.”
Mr Monaco was stabbed six times after getting into a verbal argument with Smith and Colbran at a unit owned by Smith.
The couple was angry at Mr Monaco for overstaying his welcome, having no regard for Smith’s property and not paying rent.
[Aaron's] murder was brutal and senseless and we will live with the impact of it forever.
- Holly Mason-White
The pair had been drinking and smoking marijuana at Colbran’s Ravenswood house when they decided to catch a taxi to the Newnham unit.
They stopped at a bottle shop to buy more alcohol shortly before arriving at Parua Road.
Smith confessed to killing Mr Monaco while giving evidence at his girlfriend’s trial.
The murderer also claimed Mr Monaco came out of the bedroom armed with a knife.
During sentencing, Justice Geason said he did not accept Smith’s claim and he was satisfied Mr Monaco showed no aggression toward Smith or Colbran.
Justice Geason said the story was Smith attempting to protect his girlfriend by trying to portray the victim as the aggressor.
Mr Monaco was found at a neighbour’s door “soaked in blood” after the brutal stabbing.
As he sat on the door step bleeding, the 41-year-old told police that Nathan Smith was responsible for stabbing him.
Justice Geason said because of Mr Monaco’s dying declaration, he was satisfied 34-year-old Smith was the killer.
Colbran, 41, confessed to stabbing Mr Monaco during her police interview.
“I questioned him, I talked to him, and then I stabbed him,” she said.
Smith was due to face the Launceston Supreme Court trial alongside Colbran, but he changed his plea to guilty on the morning the trial started.
Justice Geason said the difference between the murderers was marginal because Colbran restricted Mr Monaco’s movements while Smith stabbed him.
“Mr Monaco stood no chance,” Justice Geason said.
During sentencing submissions on Tuesday, the court was told about both murderers battle with alcohol and drug addictions.
Smith started drinking alcohol at age 11 and was exposed to heroin at 13 years old, beginning a more than 20-year battle with addiction.
Colbran has two estranged children and suffers psychotic episodes due to the high level of toxins in her body from alcohol, the court heard.
The couple met in NSW and moved to Tasmania for a fresh start.
Smith and Colbran’s sentences were backdated to November 2016. Smith will be eligible for parole in 14 years and Colbran in 13 years.