"I accept without hesitation that this brutal, horrific, literally senseless killing on an innocent woman in her own home....by a psychotic person determined to fulfill his goal, has constituted a waking nightmare for those who love her, and who try every day to battle without her," he said.

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"There is little I can usefully say, I think, to the survivors....except perhaps to extend my condolences to them on behalf of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, to congratulate them respectfully on their courage in the face of this devastating blow, and to express the hope that the end of these proceedings today will provide some measure of relief in their suffering."

Ms Powell's mother Deborah described her daughter as "easy going", saying she loved meeting new people and travelling.

She recounted the family's final dinner together, just hours before Ms Powell's death at the hands of her ex-employee, Bhanu Kirkman.

"I dropped her home. I said I'd see her tomorrow. She said 'I love you mum' and that's the last time I saw her."

Ms Powell's sister-in-law Michelle said the past year had been "long and torturous" for the extended family.

"I am so angry that one person's actions has the ability to affect so many people," she said.

Meanwhile, outside court, Ms Powell's brother Ryan told journalists the verdict had left the family confused.

"The words not guilty, I'm not even sure what that means," he said.

"This is just something you can't make sense of.

"It's been day-by-day, and everyone says we'll get through this, we'll get through that. But there's always one more day you just got to get through so we just keep getting through it."