Tara Costigan's axe murderer jailed for at least 26 years
Marcus Rappel has been sentenced to 30 years jail for the murder of his ex-partner and mother of his children.
A Canberra father who used an axe to murder his ex-partner while she was holding their eight-day-old baby has been sentenced to at least 26 years jail.
Marcus Rappel, who pleaded guilty to murdering mother-of-three Tara Costigan, was sentenced today in the ACT Supreme Court.
Costigan was murdered in front of her sons, aged nine and 11 at the time. She was also holding her eight-day old daughter when she was killed.
Rappel had to be restrained during his sentencing and removed from the ACT Supreme Court room after yelling at Justice John Burns.
Justice Burns rated it in the worst category of murder, labelling it "vicious and cowardly".
Rappel was sentenced to a total of 32 years and two months, with a non-parole period of 26 years.
Tara Costigan's uncle Michael said Rappel got what he deserved.
"Today's verdict does not bring me peace - Tara remains dead," he told reporters outside court.
With AAP.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
