SA brothers jailed for 'savage' cop attack

Three brothers have been jailed over "savage" attacks on several victims in Adelaide, including a police officer who was stabbed in the face.

Yohana Nyawenda, 20, Paul Kabura, 26, and Patrick Nyandwi, 22, were sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty in the District Court to aggravated causing harm with intent.

Police were called to an Adelaide home in September 2013 following reports the brothers had bashed Nyandwi's partner, who had an infant strapped to her back, and attacked two neighbours who tried to intervene.

The men were immediately aggressive, viciously attacking the officers and attempting to grab one officer's service revolver, the court heard.

Constable Barry Purnell was stabbed with such force that the tip of the kitchen knife had to be surgically removed from his face. Constable Stephen Page was repeatedly punched and bitten.

In sentencing, Judge Michael Boylan said the brothers had witnessed horrific violence, including the slaughter of family members, while growing up in war-torn Burundi and a refugee camp in Tanzania.

But the trauma of those experiences could not justify their unprovoked and cowardly attacks on several victims, he said.

He jailed Nyawenda, who stabbed Const Purnell, for five years and three months, with a non-parole period of three years.

Kabura will serve a minimum of five years after the judge ordered he serve his sentence of three years and five months concurrently with a previous armed robbery sentence.

Nyandwi was jailed for four years and nine months with a non-parole period of three years.

"Through no fault of your own, you have all witnessed violence which we in Australia can only imagine," Judge Boylan said.

"(But) I cannot neglect the court's duty to protect the public, to protect police officers and to deter others from behaving as you did that night."

The court heard Const Purnell was likely to quit the police force.

Both officers endured an anxious wait for the results of blood tests after being bitten by their assailants, and the attacks had caused their partners significant distress, Judge Boylan said.