Cara Rintala, the western Massachusetts woman convicted of killing her wife, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Rintala sat impassively inside a Hampshire Superior Courtroom in Northampton, while the parents, brother, uncle and aunt of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, gave statements. They described the pain and loss they’ve felt since her murder six and a half years ago.

And then Cara Rintala stood in shackles to hear the court clerk announce that she was to be committed to the women’s state prison in Framingham for the term of her natural life.

After two previous trials ended in hung juries, Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne said the sentencing has brought some sense of relief and closure to the victim’s family.

“It’s a serious moment. It’s not one for high-fiving or congratulations…there’s loss on both sides of the ledger. Both families are impacted; the harm can never be undone,” Gagne said.

The conviction triggers an automatic appeals process that Gagne said could take years.

Rintala’s defense attorney declined comment, adding there was nothing else left to say.