© AAP: James RossThe court condemned Khandasamy (left) and Kumuthini Kannan (right) for their crimes.
Kandasamy and Kumuthini Kannan on Wednesday appeared in Victoria's Supreme Court where they were convicted for subjugating the woman, which ultimately left her in hospital weighing just 40 kilograms.
Kumuthini Kannan, 53, was ordered to spend eight years behind bars.
Her husband, Kandasamy Kannan, 57, was ordered to serve six years.
It is the first time a case solely about slavery by domestic servitude has been aired in an Australian court and, prosecutors say, the longest period of enslavement the nation has ever seen.
But the court heard the couple still did not accept that they forced the Indian grandmother into servitude, and continued to "strenuously" profess their innocence.
The couple's legal team has already indicated that they may be preparing an appeal.
During a sentencing which was watched by almost 200 people, and which stretched to almost three hours, Justice John Champion took aim at the couple.
"Slavery is regarded as a crime against humanity," he said.
"Your offending occurred in the daily presence and with the obvious knowledge and comprehension of your children.
"You set them a deplorable example of how parents should act towards another human being.
"Her life was controlled largely in the privacy of your own home and care was taken by you to keep her true status from others in your community ... so that your dirty secret was maintained.
"This court publicly condemns you both for your disgraceful conduct."
Justice Champion branded the couple as "almost compulsive liars".
"The number and brazen quality of the lies has been nothing short of astonishing," he said.
"I'm quite convinced that you both believe you have done nothing wrong.
"Neither of you have shown remorse or contrition."
Kumuthini Kannan appeared in court from prison where she rocked back and forth during the hearing.
She put her hands to her face as her husband, Kandasamy Kannan, was sentenced.
He sat with his arms crossed and did not react.
The couple's victim, who cannot be named, originally came to Australia to work for them, and was able to return to India both times.
But on her third visit in 2007, she was enslaved by the Kannans and forced to cook, clean and care for the couple's children for eight years. She was effectively paid about $3.39 per day.
Prosecutors now want the court to order the couple to repay the woman for years of servitude.
Victim was 'fading away', weighing 40 kilograms
Justice Champion said the woman allowed the couple to maintain their jobs and their lifestyle, including holidays overseas.
In 2015, the victim's family became increasingly concerned about her welfare and, when they were unable to contact her, Victoria Police conducted a welfare check.
But the officer who went to the Kannan's house was told by the couple that they had not seen her since 2007.
In reality, the woman had been admitted to hospital under a fake name after she collapsed and was found in a pool of her own urine.
"Mrs Kannan called triple-0 for assistance, but not before deciding to take your children to a school concert, leaving [the woman] on the bathroom floor," Justice Champion said.
"You told a litany of lies designed to mislead and distance yourself and your husband from the true circumstances of the person who had been admitted to hospital."
The woman had to be admitted to intensive care and later told authorities she was beaten with a frozen chicken and burned with boiling water.
"She was emaciated and weighed about 40 kilograms," Justice Champion said.
"She was described by a hospital doctor as fading away."
Couple considered slave a family member
The Supreme Court heard that the woman, who is now in her 60s, continues to suffer long-term health effects and will need a catheter for the rest of her life.
The court heard that she had declined to make a victim impact statement.
But lawyers for the Kannans argued that the woman's claims about being physically abused could not be conclusively proven.
During a pre-sentence hearing, their legal team told the court that they considered the woman a family member, and that she was never shackled.
Justice Champion said the concept of slavery needed to be redefined.
"We must rid ourselves of ingrained images of rows of men chained together at the oars of a galley or men, women and children working in fields in bondage," he said.
"Slavery can be much more subtle than that, and may not involve physical restraint.
"It must be reaffirmed as that possessing or using a person in a condition of slavery is repugnant, degrading of the human condition, and a gross breach of human rights."
He said Kumuthini Kannan was more morally culpable for keeping the woman as a slave, compared to her husband who was more "at arm's length".
Kumuthini Kannan will be eligible for parole in four years.
Kandasamy Kannan can apply for parole in three years.
Comment: What a disgusting story. It sounds like these two got off with rather light sentences, all things considered.
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