A judge has sentenced Jason Harvey McDowell to 12 years for the death of his girlfriend, Samantha Zeemel, 19.
McDowell previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in her death.
Zeemel was found shot twice, once in the face and once in the back of the head, in August 2007 in East St. Paul.
McDowell had originally been charged with first-degree murder. That charge was later dropped to second-degree murder, before the charge was lowered once more to manslaughter in a plea deal.
Some of Zeemel's family said that does not sit well with them.
"For a person to grab a gun, load it, shoot it, reload it, shoot it again, that is intent," said Heather Lavallee, Samantha's mother.
After the shooting, McDowell took off and police launched a manhunt.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued for McDowell and he turned himself in hours later.
In court, the defence and the Crown put forward a joint recommendation of 12 years and the judge agreed with the recommendation on Wednesday.
Court heard that there had been a party at the house that lasted for days prior to the shooting.
Both McDowell and Zeemel had been drinking and doing cocaine. The two main witnesses had also been under the influence at the time and the Crown feared their testimony wouldn't hold up in court.
"To me, it seems like the justice system is for the criminals," said Ann, a friend of Zeemel's family.
The judge said she found McDowell, 29, remorseful. When he addressed the court, he said he was absolutely insane at the time of the shooting from four days of binging on cocaine. He also said he'd spend the rest of his life in prison if it meant Samantha would still be alive.
"I don't know if he's remorseful. I don't know him," said Heather Lavallee.
Because McDowell qualifies for a two-for-one credit for time already spent in jail, he has a little more than 22 months remaining on his sentence. He will also have a life-long weapons ban and will have to submit his DNA for a registry.
- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley
