Ricardo Barbaro, 38, looked up and raised his eyebrows as he was sentenced in the Victorian Supreme Court on Friday morning.
A jury in September 2023 found him guilty of killing his girlfriend Ellie Price, 26, at her South Melbourne home on April 29, 2020.
He left the murder scene in her Mercedes Benz before dumping the vehicle at a Diggers Rest property, northwest of Melbourne.
Ellie Price's family and friends were in court to see Ricardo Barbaro being sentenced. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)
Ms Price's body was left undiscovered until May 4, when police attended her house to carry out a welfare check.
They found the mother-of-one with plunging stab wounds and a cut to her neck.
After media reported that her body had been found, Barbaro fled to NSW in a van.
He was arrested 10 days later and charged with Ms Price's murder.
Justice Stephen Kaye on Friday described the killing as a senseless and cruel crime against a vulnerable woman.
"She was alone, completely defenceless and quite clearly overpowered by you," he told Barbaro on Friday.
"Your murderous attack was cruel, vicious and entirely merciless."
He sentenced Barbaro to 28 years behind bars and he will be eligible for parole after serving 22 years.
Ms Price's family and friends were at court for the sentence.
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