Dennis Robert White must spend 16 years behind bars without parole for the fatal shooting of aspiring artist Lee Matasi.

"pitilessness and randomness" of his crime, a judge ruled Friday that Dennis Robert White must spend 16 years behind bars without parole for the fatal shooting of aspiring artist Lee Matasi.White, 30, was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder and received the mandatory life sentence, with a minimum of 10 years in jail with no parole.Because the jury made no recommendation on a possible increase in parole ineligibility up to a maximum of 25 years, a hearing was then held for submissions on that issue.The Crown asked that White be held in prison for between 15 and 18 years without parole, calling the December 2005 killing outside a Vancouver nightclub an "execution-style" shooting and arguing that White's possession of cocaine indicated his involvement in drug dealing.White's lawyer disputed those claims and argued for no additional time.On Friday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Mark McEwan said one of the difficulties in the case was that White had no criminal record, his remorse was genuine, he recognizes the gravity of the offence and has the support of family and friends.But the judge also noted that White was "clearly in an aggressive frame of mind" on the night of the murder and his actions in mishandling the gun, and discharging the weapon into a building prior to the fatal shooting, gave White no pause."It's clear that . . . there was something almost compulsive about the way White handled and showed and used the gun," said the judge, citing case law indicating that gun crime must be deterred and denounced.White, who stood in the prisoner's box during the sentencing, looked up at the ceiling of the courtroom in response to the ruling.A number of his supporters sitting behind him, including his mother, broke down in tears.Outside court, Matasi's parents said they were satisfied with the judge's decision.His mother, Susan Jessop, said she found the judge's arguments to be "very reasoned" and commented that it properly delivered the message that handguns don't belong in Canadian society."I think my son would be happy with the outcome today."She noted the "absolutely senseless" nature of the crime."A man is dead, that's my son. Another man is going to jail for a very long time -- and for what? How did this come to pass here?"Matasi's father, Lou Matasi, said he was relieved at the ruling and that the next step was for Parliament to pass tougher laws against gun crimes.White's lawyer, Terry LaLiberte, called the sentencing "pure punishment" and vowed that there will be an appeal.

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