Anthony John Hagen has spent all but four years of his adult life in a cell.
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Now, as he counts down the days to his death, the convicted murderer has pleaded with a court to let him spend his final moments with his family.
Hagen, 55, is one of Canberra's career criminals, with 98 criminal convictions spanning decades.
Along the way, he has struggled with drug addiction and hepatitis C, and has become institutionalised, no longer caring about the consequences of his crime.
He was convicted of murder in 1987 and sentenced to 15 years, but was out by 1992.
Hagen committed an armed robbery of the Fyshwick Commonwealth Bank years later, along with his accomplice Matthew Massey, another well-known offender.
The ageing criminal is currently in prison for his latest crime, trafficking methylamphetamine in 2012.
Hagen's home was raided after his phone was tapped for months, revealing to police he was back in the drug trade, something he had already been convicted of twice.
Police found trafficable quantities of ice, clip seal bags, scales and other drug paraphernalia at his home.
He pleaded guilty earlier this year and came before Justice Richard Refshauge for sentencing on Thursday.
Hagen's doctor told the ACT Supreme Court the criminal is dying of liver cancer. His prognosis is bleak, perhaps with only half a year to live.
Hagen himself gave evidence to the court, saying his impending death made him realise his life of crime was done.
"It's enough to stop any person, you know?"
"I want to be with [my family] as much as I can, you know. This is it."
In cross-examination, Hagen was asked whether his death now simply meant he had nothing to lose. The Crown said he had been shown leniency before, and had failed the courts.
The prosecution asked the court to balance its mercy for the dying man with the need to protect the community from potential reoffending.
The Crown said the community needed to be deterred from drug trafficking, saying such offences destroyed society and the lives of individuals.
Justice Refshauge replied: "Well, he's a living example of that, isn't he?"
Justice Refshauge sentenced Hagen to a maximum of five years and nine months imprisonment, noting it did not matter because he would not be alive that long.
He set a non-parole period to end in October.
The judge said that would limit Hagen's ability to get back into drugs, while allowing him to spend his final days with his family.
Justice Refshauge told Hagen to show his grandchildren that he had wasted his life.
If Hagen could convince them not to follow in his footsteps, Justice Refshauge said his life may not have been entirely wasted after all.