Shock at sentence given to man who attacked his wife with a machete

WARNING, DISTRESSING: A man who hacked off his wife's fingers and toes during a sickening attack could spend just six years behind bars.

But remarkably, the mother of three said she had chosen to forgive her estranged husband of more than 20 years.

Critics have expressed surprise at the duration of the sentence given to Atinae Afamiliona, who has been given a minimum of six years in jail for the attack on his estranged wife Tiperia.

"I believe there needs to be a clear message to the perpetrators of domestic violence that there are severe consequences for their behaviour," domestic violence support advocate Tanya Whitehouse said outside Campbelltown Court.

In the brutal, merciless and unrelenting attack, Mr Afamiliona struck at least 10 blows as his wife cowered under their car, chopping off two fingers, two toes, partially degloving her left hand and breaking bones in her arms and legs.

Ms Afamiliona had suggested a trial separation when her husband attacked.

"What he has done has divided our family," she told Campbelltown Court.

"I feel alone, I feel unsupported, I feel lost, I feel sad."

She said she was especially sad that her children believed some of the tragedy was her fault.

"I didn't ask him to attack me with a machete," she said.

Acting judge Greg Grogin reduced Atinae Afamiliona's sentence by 25 per cent for pleading guilty, despite the 50-year-old man having a criminal record for domestic violence, having attacked women and children in domestic altercations three times before.

Tanya Whitehouse said the sentencing could have been higher.

"The impact of the psychological and emotional abuse is far more reaching with that person that the physical assault," she said.

Tiperia Afamiliona's scars will remind her long after the day her husband leaves jail.

"I have lost everything that I thought I was going to have for the rest of my life," she said.

National Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.