When Analyn 'Logee' Osias sought out a family violence order after her breakup, she believed she would be protected from her ex-partner.
But the order was not enough.
The mother-of-four was murdered by the man in her regional Victorian home three months later, in front of two of her children.
James William Pualic, 45, broke into the Bendigo property shortly after 11pm on October 29, 2023, while Ms Osias and her young daughters were sleeping.
He smashed a window and then forced his way inside the home by ripping open a connecting security door.
Ms Osias was dragged from her bed, with Pualic bashing her head against the floor and strangling her before stabbing her to death.
One of Ms Osias' children heard her screams and rushed into the dining room to see her mother being attacked.
The young girl yelled at Pualic to stop but he ignored her, calling her mother a "bitch" before leaving the property and driving off.
The child called triple zero but Ms Osias could not be saved when paramedics arrived.
Victorian Supreme Court Justice Rita Incerti described the murderous attack as "cruel and vicious" as she sentenced Pualic on Friday to 24 years and six months behind bars.
"You totally overpowered Ms Osias - she was completely defenceless against you," the judge said.
"Your presence in these circumstances must have been terrifying as she vainly tried to defend herself."
Ms Osias took out the family violence intervention order in July 2023 after Pualic assaulted her days after she broke up with him.
In a rare move, media were permitted to report on the intervention order after Justice Incerti ruled the public should know Pualic had "brazenly flouted" an order designed to help Ms Osias.
"The full force of the law was not enough to protect her," Justice Incerti said.
"Ms Osias was entitled to end her relationship without fear of harm."
Pualic drank half a bottle of vodka and took 12 tablets of antipsychotic medication on the day he carried out the murder.
He had substance abuse issues and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, but those factors did not reduce the seriousness of his crime, Justice Incerti said.
She accepted he had pleaded guilty to murder at an early stage, which showed his remorse and spared Ms Osias' family from having to give evidence at a trial.
But it was a serious case of family violence and Pualic had prior convictions for assaulting others, the judge said.
"Your offending undermines our confidence in the ability of the law to adequately protect women and children," Justice Incerti said.
"The ripple effect is wide-reaching ... it leaves each of us with a feeling of helplessness.
"The message must be heard loud and clear - committing serious violence in a domestic setting, and taking the life of another, will be met with extraordinarily strong punishment."
She sentenced him to 24 years and six months behind bars, but he will be eligible for parole after 19 years.
The standard sentence for murder is 25 years.
Pualic looked down as his sentence was read out and thanked Justice Incerti when she asked the guards to lead him out of the courtroom.
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