The family of a mother brutally stabbed to death has called for the return of the death penalty after the man responsible for her murder was sentenced to life in prison.

Natasha Sadler-Ellis's loved ones say no sentence a judge could have imposed on double killer Foster Christian would have been enough.

In a heartwrenching statement read outside court following today's sentencing, Ms Sadler-Ellis's family said: "Natasha, along with Simon, was brutally murdered by an evil monster – Foster Christian – who should never have been let back in to society to walk the streets, after so many previous convictions.

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"Although justice has been done in the eyes of the law, it will never bring our beautiful Natasha back. We shall never get over this tragedy, but only learn to live with it, in time.

"Foster Christian is a complete compulsive liar, who did not have a relationship with Natasha. He has committed a brutal, heinous crime. He murdered two people in cold blood - almost three - and severely injured another.

VIDEO: The victims' families spoke outside court.

"We are glad the jury have seen through his lies, deceit and constant change of accounts of the chain of events that came to fruition on that terrible night on Tuesday, March 29.

"He has shown no remorse throughout the last three weeks and grinned at all the victims’ family and friends during the duration of this gruelling trial we have had to endure.

"We truly believe the death penalty should be re-instated in our country for such horrific, horrendous crimes.

"We hope this verdict will help us with our grieving process, that he has been held accountable for his actions."

Christian stabbed Ms Sadler-Ellis and Mr Gorecki to death at a house in Dickens Avenue in Canterbury in March.

He also wounded Connaugh Harris, 20, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He was sentenced today along with Naomi Toro, 36, and 19-year-old Samantha Groombridge, who helped take the murder weapon away from the scene and hide it.

Paying tribute to Ms Sadler-Ellis, the family said: "Natasha’s three children have had their mother taken away, my mother has lost her daughter and myself and my other two sisters have lost our sister.

"Natasha was full of life, very kind and lived for her children. She was also known in the family as 'Aunty Party' due to her whole persona and love of life."

Mr Gorecki's family also expressed relief at the sentence, but said it was not a time for celebration.

Their statement read: "Mr Christian's guilt has never been in question for us. This has simply been an exercise in determining at what age Mr Christian will die a haunted man in his jail cell.

"Having been murdered once, the defence counsel in this case sought to murder him again by dragging his name and his reputation through the dirt in order to establish any semblance of credibility to the pack of lies Mr Christian had been peddling in order to protect himself.

"Simon is not here to speak for himself because Foster Christian murdered him. But we are still here and we will speak for him and we know the truth about Simon.

"A fun, caring and compassionate man, whose only ever meaningful misdemeanour in his life was that he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Mercifully, we feel like we are now in a position to utter the words: 'Rest in peace, Simon. Rest in peace, Natasha. And those words will finally have some meaning."

Mr Gorecki's loved ones also paid tribute to Christian's other two victims, and both families thanked the police, the jury, the prosecutor and the judge.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gossett added: "What started as an argument took a devastating turn. Now two lives have been lost and many lives ruined.

"Although Christian never denied stabbing Ms Sadler-Ellis and Mr Gorecki it is clear from our investigation that this was not self-defence, but murder.

"Christian murdered two people and seriously assaulted another two – and by trying to help him cover up his actions, Toro and Groombridge played their part too.

"His actions that night had tragic and far-reaching consequences for all involved as well as their friends and families.

"Justice has now been served on a dangerous individual, Christian is starting a prison sentence and no longer able to harm anyone. I hope it brings closure and reassurance to the victims’ families who have been supportive throughout the investigation and shown a true courage."