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Canberra man Graham Stuart Dillon, who killed his nine-year-old son Bradyn, has been sentenced to 41 years in jail, 36 of them for murder.
Dillon last year pleaded guilty to his son's killing, along with causing grievous bodily harm and several assault charges including choking and threatening to kill.
The court heard Bradyn was abused for weeks leading up to his death, suffering more than 70 individual injuries on his body.
He was thrown against walls, burned with cigarettes and hit with a belt.
On the day of the murder, Dillon had hit and kicked his son in the face, which is believed to have made an earlier injury bleed.
The court heard the final beating was sparked over an accusation Bradyn had stolen lollies from his father.
Dillon did not call an ambulance as Bradyn lay unconscious for hours, but began searching the internet with questions including "what does it mean if someone is knock [sic] out how do u [sic] get them up".
Dillon also took photographs of shoes during that time, with the intention of selling them online, and researched their value on the internet.
During sentencing, Justice John Burns described Dillon's "brutal process of torture" towards Bradyn as "cowardly and callous".
"He was entitled to expect your protection and your love … you abused that relationship to inflict pain upon him," Justice Burns said.
He said he was "not convinced [Dillon's] plea of guilty indicated any remorse".
Rather, Justice Burns found that in Dillon's interview with police he attempted to minimise his responsibility and garner sympathy for himself.
"It is probable that you will only present a danger to others in the future," Justice Burns said.
Dillon, who was sentenced for 11 charges, will not be eligible for parole for 32 years.
There was an audible gasp from the public gallery as the sentence of 36 years for murder was handed down, but Dillon remained emotionless throughout the proceedings.
'A lot of people failed Bradyn'
Speaking outside the court, Bradyn's mother Rachel Jones described the sentence as "harsh" but said nothing would "give Bradyn his life back and bring him home".
"No sentence that could've been handed down today, against this vicious and cowardly predator, could ever give me satisfaction," she said.
"Bradyn was just nine years of age and completely innocent. I was absolutely helpless to defend or assist my little boy as much as I tried.
"I think a lot of people failed Bradyn".
Ms Jones described her son as a "loving and caring little boy that gave his everything to make sure that everybody else was happy around him".
Topics: courts-and-trials, murder-and-manslaughter, canberra-2600, act
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