Officer Damian Leeding's family rejoices as killer Phillip Graeme Abell is sentenced to life in jail without parole

A VIOLENT career criminal stood head bowed and showed no emotion as he was sentenced for the murder of Officer Damian Leeding.

The family of Damian Leeding spoke of their relief at the life sentence outside court yesterday.

A VIOLENT, gun-toting career criminal and convicted bank robber yesterday stood head bowed and showed no emotion as he was given life in prison for killing Gold Coast policeman Damian Leeding.

Phillip Graeme Abell, 41, stood with a hardened face as he was told he would serve a life sentence without parole for the shooting murder on May 29, 2011.

Outside court, the father-of-two's family rejoiced at the sentence but shared their heartbreak.

"We would just like to say how grateful we are to the judge and the court for the length of the sentence,'' mum Julie Waters said.

"Obviously that's never going to bring Damian back, but nothing is enough to bring Damian back, ever …''

Shot Gold Coast Senior Constable Damian Leeding with his son Hudson.

Abell was sentenced to 18 years jail for the terrifying armed robbery of the Pacific Pines Tavern and three years jail for each of the seven hostages he detained at gunpoint in the long, frightening minutes before Sen-Const Leeding was shot at 10.40pm.

There was no repeat of Abell's antics as the verdict was delivered, when he infamously refused to stand and flipped the bird at Supreme Court Justice James Douglas.

Hold-up couple show no remorse after being found guilty

His only supporter in court, his partner, sat emotionless behind him in the public gallery. Abell will be 59 before he is eligible for release.

Justice Douglas denounced his lack of remorse and the "deliberate'' killing of a police officer in the execution of his duty.

He said that by arming himself with a loaded shotgun during the holdup, Abell would have "at least anticipated the possibility of police intervening''.

Officer Leeding's killer Phillip Graeme Abell will remain in jail until he is at least 59.

"It seems significant to me the crime was a deliberate shooting of a police officer who was acting in his sworn duty to protect the public,'' he said.

Ms Waters and Sen-Const Leeding's sisters Hayley and Chantelle read out victim impact statements from the witness stand through tears.

The women spoke about the toll their son and brother's murder had on their family, of their individual battles with post-traumatic stress disorder, their struggle to come to terms with his loss and frustration at broken relationships.

They told the court of the birthdays, weddings and births of nieces and nephews Sen-Constable Leeding had missed and how his murder irrevocably altered their lives.

Ms Waters told of the daily struggle to sit through her son's murder trial and being "overwhelmed'' at seeing her son's killers.

"Words cannot express our grief and how much we miss Damian,'' she said.

Tavern staff members Kelly McLaren and Emma Stoddard shared their grief and sadness and told of the ongoing, debilitating impact on their emotional and physical well-being.

Ms Stoddard said she blamed herself for what happened to Sen-Const Leeding and struggled to find meaning or happiness in her life.

"I constantly remember Damian who lost everything,'' she said.

Abell's extensive criminal history of violent armed robberies was aired in court, including the holdup of a bank for which he served eight years in 1997. In 1990, he was sentenced to four-years jail for being the getaway driver when a convenience store was held up with a loaded pistol.

He was dealt with for violence towards Queensland Corrective Services officers while in custody in 1993.

Abell is yet to be sentenced for a violent home invasion on December 30, 2010, using the same sawn-off shotgun that killed Sen-Const Leeding.

He and accomplice Donna Lee McAvoy, 39, were convicted of the Coomera detective's murder last month.

Outside court, Assistant Commissioner Paul Wilson said he had phoned Sen-Const Leeding's wife Sonya, who was absent from court as her children were unwell, to tell her of the sentence.