'That's not justice,' says father, after daughter's killer given eight-year manslaughter sentence | Video

Even though they knew it was likely coming, Ed and Debbie Sands were devastated by the eight-year prison sentence minus time already served for the man who pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter in the shooting death of their daughter Amy Sands more than two years ago.

We were hoping it would be higher, but its not enough to have to serve just four years and nine months for taking a life. Thats not justice, Okotoks councillor Ed Sands said outside court.

Its inadequate. Our daughter dies and he could be out in less than five years, added Debbie Sands.

Jesse George Hill, 28, faced a lengthy second-degree murder trial in the shooting death of Amy Sands at a southeast garage party on Aug. 31, 2012, but as part of a plea bargain pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter with a firearm.

Hill had always maintained he was not the shooter, but rather a party to the incident in which Sands, 27, was struck by a stray bullet intended for another person inside the garage of an admitted drug dealer.

It is believed that Sands boyfriend, Robert Rollins, was the intended target. He had got into a heated argument with Hill, in which derogatory comments were made to Hill, who left and returned with someone else just after 6 a.m., when two shots were fired.

The accomplice with Hill is believed to have fired the two bullets, including the one that struck the victim in the spinal cord and exited out her throat.

Court of Queens Bench Justice Earl Wilson, who accepted a joint sentencing submission presented by Crown prosecutor Deven Singhal and defence lawyer Adriano Iovinelli, gave Hill a stern lecture before sending him to prison.

That this started as a war of words and insults is mind-boggling, said Wilson. I only hope to God it has sunk in.

Mr. Hill, you have heard the victims familys statements and you heard their pain. You caused what you did to their daughter and I hope you remember it every waking moment for every day for the rest of your life.

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'That's not justice,' says father, after daughter's killer given eight-year manslaughter sentence | Video