Craig McDermott, who subjected his former partner to years of family violence, has been sentenced to 25 years in jail for her murder.

The 40-year-old was found guilty in May of killing Fiona Warzywoda outside her solicitor’s office at a Sunshine shopping centre in 2014.

Ms Warzywoda had just finalised an intervention order against McDermott when she was stabbed six times.

A court had also banned him from seeing their children for three months.

McDermott, who pleaded not guilty on the grounds of self-defence, will be eligible for parole in 20 years.

Murdered Melbourne woman Fiona Warzywoda. Photo: AAP.

A large number of family members were in court for the sentence.

The judge said McDermott’s flagrant breach of court orders that were designed to protect Ms Warzywoda had irretrievably damaged their children’s lives.

The couple had been together for about 18 years before breaking up just two months before the murder.

Ms Warzywoda was 15 and McDermott was 20 when they met.

Paul Judge, Ms Warzywoda’s brother, said the family was happy McDermott got a “decent” sentence, and hoped it would help put an end to family violence.

“She’d bend over backwards for the kids, she was really just a fantastic lady,” he said.

“Fiona can now rest in peace and we’ll get on with our lives as well.”

Her sister Jolene Warzywoda said she missed her every day.