Audio: Underfunding of Indigenous domestic violence victims - SBS Report

A Victorian woman who stabbed her partner to death after years of domestic violence has been sentenced to six years in prison.

Veronica Hudson pleaded guilty to manslaughter after stabbing her partner, Woody Heron, during a drunken fight outside the tent they were living in at a Bendigo caravan park two years ago.

Heron was described as jealous and having no conscience.

He had served five years in prison for a vicious attack on Hudson.

Hudson, 43, had been sexually abused from a young age and became a prostitute at 13.

Justice Betty King said something must be done to stop this type of domestic violence.

"Your life reads like a horror story and I have no doubt people have tried, at different times, to help," she said.

"You've had years of abuse. Sexual, physical and emotional. And we, the rest of the community, appear to have been powerless to stop it.

"We must stop this appalling violence being inflicted one upon the other, by members of the Indigenous community."

The court heard since being in the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, Hudson's life has turned around.

She has completed cooking and computer courses and sought help for health problems.

"It is a rare thing to see people utilising the prison system for rehabilitation purposes and I'm heartened by your desire to do better for yourself," Justice King said.

"You need assistance, you need support and hopefully with all of that you may become a more functioning member of the community, more supportive to your son and more responsive to the social mores of our community."

Hudson cried as she was sentenced to six years' jail. She can apply for parole after serving three years.

Audio: SBS World News Australia Radio 16 May 2013 Article: ABC News 16 April 2013