A man who brutally beat his roommate to death with a hammer in Regina has been sentenced to eight years behind bars.
Lance Gibson bowed his head after a Court of Queen's Bench judge handed him the sentence Friday.
The 52-year-old earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the April 2006 death of his friend and roommate, Guy Lenius, at their home in North Central Regina.
The court heard the two men both struggled with drug addiction and had a falling out in the days leading up to the killing.
Gibson was inebriated after drinking about 10 beers at a local bar on the evening before Lenius died.
He went home and was watching a Disney movie on the couch when the 47-year-old victim came out of his room and an argument ensued.
Gibson earlier said that after Lenius went back into his room, he heard a voice in his head telling him "you have to end this now."
He put on a pair of gloves, grabbed a hammer, went into Lenius' room and, according to the evidence, bludgeoned his roommate to death with as many as 100 blows.
When police arrived, the room was covered in blood and there were signs that someone had attempted to clean up the crime scene. Gibson initially told police he had found Lenius dead in his room.
"I just want to apologize to everyone for this tragedy," Gibson told the court.
"That night I changed; I wasn't the same person. I feel remorse. He was my friend."
The Crown had sought a jail sentence of 10 to 12 years, while the defence asked for a community-based, conditional sentence.
In addition to the eight-year jail term, Gibson will be prohibited from possessing firearms. A lawyer for Gibson said they may appeal the sentence.
