The family of a 47-year-old gas station attendant who was beaten to death in a derelict building in Paget last year were outraged that his killer was sentenced to nine years when the maximum sentence was life.

Coleridge Narado Hayward, 22, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Cornell (Bird) Jones on or about March 17, 2004 in Paget.

"It hurt that he only got that time," the victim's sister, Andrea Dori-Ann Jones, said yesterday. "They kept saying he did not have a weapon but it takes more force to kill someone with your bare hands. I am outraged. For murder he will serve three to four years? They have to get their priorities straight. They have to make an example of these people. He has gone up there to live better than I do and I have to pay for it."

Since her brother's killing Ms Jones now has to sleep with a light on.

"We were very close and he ended up moving out a few months prior to his being killed," she said in a victim impact statement. "His passing really devastated me. Emotionally, I have been a wreck. To be honest, since Cornell's death, it's been really difficult for me to regain my motivation for everyday life. I would really like to know why the boy beat Cornell to death. This is the biggest question I have for him."

Her five-year-old son looked for his uncle every day and the whole neighbourhood missed him, she said.

"I still have nightmares about what happened to Cornell," she said. "Cornell was taken unnecessarily. I now also have to to sleep with a night light on. He never harmed anybody. His death has changed the lives of me and my son in a way that I wouldn't wish on anybody."

She said Mr. Jones had agreed to move back into his sister's house the day before he was killed.

He had been living in a derelict building on Valley Road, Paget, for eight months since he lost his job at the gas station and made living washing cars.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Valerie Rao said Mr. Jones was killed due to injury to his brain as a result of blunt force trauma.

Mr. Jones was found by his friend, Allan Vickers, lying on a makeshift bed inside a derelict house with major internal bleeding in his face, head and neck. He had multiple injuries to his face and head and his tooth had burst through his upper jaw, she said.

"Vickers noticed fresh injuries to the deceased's forehead and that his face was abnormally swollen. Fresh blood stains were also noticed on the floor near to the body, leading out towards the doorway," Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said.

Dr. Rao found fresh lacerations on Mr. Jones' knees, shins and thighs ? injuries consistent with being dragged, she said.

It was later found that Hayward was temporarily sharing the abandoned building with Hayward.

Hayward was also heard threatening to beat Mr. Jones in day he died. "Give me some money!" Hayward said. "Just watch and see what happens to you!"

When he was arrested he had fresh injuries to his left hand, Ms Clarke said, and blood was found on his clothes.

Defence lawyer Peter Farge said the use of a weapon was never proved in the evidence. He said his client had no previous convictions and now showed remorse for his actions.

Acting Chief Justice Norma Wade-Miller said this was a violent, brutal attack.

"When an offender causes the death of another they should expect a significant sentence," she said.

However, she sentenced Hayward to nine years on prison ? even though the prosecutor had asked for a sentence between nine and 12 years ? and said time already served would be taken into consideration.

Hayward has been in custody for 18 months when he denied murdering Mr. Jones.

In July, Hayward pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.