Killers' and victim's families clash outside court as Calgary judge accepts manslaughter pleas

Tensions boiled over outsidea Calgary courtroom Monday afternoon as the mother and sister of a young man shot to death last year came face to face with the families of his three killers.

"You could cut the tension with a knife," said AwienAbiem,whose older brother died last November.

AbiemAbiem was shot through the door of his cousin's basement apartment inthe southeast community of Dover as the two tried to keep out the three men threatening them with guns.

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Originally charged with first-degree murder,BenjaminEl-AjakNyiker, 24,AkiegBol, 21, andMatiopOkich, 22,pleaded guilty to manslaughter Monday afternoon.

Before they entered thecourtroom, sheriffs had to break up a verbal fight between the victim's family and the offenders'.

Abiem'smother and sistersat on one side of the courtroom while about 20 members of Nyiker, Bol and Okich'sfamily filled the other side of the gallery.

The trio of killers were drinking with two women the night of Nov. 11, 2016, when they decided to do a drug deal, or as they called it that night, a "chop," according to an agreed statement of facts read aloud at trial.

The three had been in an ongoing dispute with the victim's cousin Bol Bol. The killersdrove to Abiem's home and managed to get him into their car. He then directed him to his cousin's under the direction of the men who were armed with a shotgun and a revolver.

Once BolBolanswered the door to his basement apartment,Abiemtried to warn him.

"The victim was there with a scared look on his face and rushed in saying 'close the door they have guns,'" readsthe agreed statement of facts.

As BolBol and Abiemtried to close the door from inside while the three tried to push their way into the apartment. One of the three men fired the shotgun twice. Abiem was fatally wounded.

The killers and the victim are all from Sudan and all have criminal records here in Canada.

Defence lawyers Alain Hepner, Allan Fay andGavin Wolchas well as prosecutor Joe Merciermade a joint recommendation for a 10-year sentence that was accepted by provincial court Judge Harry Van Harten.

"It's never easy to send young men like you to prison," said Van Harten. "Little as though it may mean to you, I wish you the best of luck in your futures."

The three have been in custody since their arrest last year and will receive 1.5 days credit for every day they've already served.

"Theremorse is genuine," Hepnersaid of his client, Okich.

Fay, Nyiker's lawyer,says his client "regrets his involvement" in the killing.

Victim's family feels sentence 'unfair'

Bol'sfamily left Sudan when he was seven years old having already lost his father in the civil war. He hopes to complete his education while serving his sentence, saidWolch.

"I don't think they were remorseful," said Abiem's sister.

After they serve their sentences, the three, who are permanent residents, will be subjected to a deportation process,though it's rare for offenders to be sent back to war-torn countries like South Sudan, according toHepner.

Mercierindicated the plea deal was made, in part, because of difficulties with witnesses who were reluctant to testify.

But Abiemsays she and her mother feel the sentence is "unfair" and would have liked the men to be sent toprison for life.

"I'm not happy.I don't like the sentence at all."