A Melbourne man who shot dead his only son after an argument over a burnt omelette has been sentenced to 19 years in jail.

Key points: Andrew Smith leaves behind two young children

Andrew Smith leaves behind two young children Over the years, the father and son frequently argued but were seldom violent

Over the years, the father and son frequently argued but were seldom violent Peter Smith will be eligible for parole in 14 years

The quarrel over the omelette was the "final straw" for Peter John Smith, 70, who had spent substantial amounts of money trying to help his son, Andrew, get clean from a five-year on-and-off addiction to ice and synthetic cannabis, the Supreme Court heard.

At the time of the shooting last year, 30-year-old Andrew Smith had been clean for a few weeks, was working full time and living with his parents in Mulgrave.

Andrew Smith, a father himself of two young children, had been drinking with his parents at home on the evening of December 18 when an argument started over dinner.

He had been cooking an omelette, but after burning it, tossed it in the backyard.

Peter Smith became angry, saying it could harm the family dog.

"F*** the dog, f*** you!" Andrew Smith replied.

"You'll be dead in a year," he said, referring to cancer treatment that his father had recently undergone.

Andrew Smith died at this house in Mulgrave, in Melbourne's south-east. ( ABC News )

The argument continued, and Andrew Smith went inside to his room and shut the door.

After eating dinner, Peter Smith walked to his caravan outside, got out his double-barrelled shotgun, and loaded it with ammunition.

"I'm going to kill the c*** and then I'm going to kill myself," he said to his wife as he walked back inside.

"Yeah right, of course you are," she replied, thinking he was joking.

Peter Smith then walked into his son's room and shot him twice in the body while he was lying on his bed. He died instantly.

'It's over now. I don't have to worry'

He later told police he had just had enough.

"It just happened. I couldn't take it anymore. It's over now. I don't have to worry," he told police.

The court heard the relationship between the father and son had been up and down over the years.

Though they frequently argued, they were seldom violent.

In sentencing, Justice Andrew Tinney said despite the father and son's issues, there was still love and affection between the pair.

"Whatever had happened in the years leading up to this tragic event … he remained your son," he said.

"You were meant to be in a position of great trust where he was concerned.

"You allowed your anger and sadness to overcome all reason."

"Yours was a shocking, senseless and inexcusable crime."

Children will grow up without father

Justice Tinney said it was a particular tragedy that Andrew Smith's two young children would grow up not knowing their father.

He said for all of the younger man's faults, he had shown his children that they were important to him and would have fulfilled an important role in their lives.

Family members of the victim and accused cried in court as the sentence was read out.

Peter Smith will be eligible for parole in 14 years.