A 25-year-old man convicted of manslaughter in December was sentenced Monday in state district court to 40 years in prison.

Michael Ja’rel Tutson shot and killed Damion Derrelle Jackson, 32, on Aug. 29, 2013. Officers found Jackson bleeding on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds, and he died in a local hospital.

Tutson’s trial included a two-day recess and material witnesses who couldn’t be located. He was on trial for second-degree murder, but jurors returned a verdict of manslaughter.

Family members of Jackson on Monday gave victim impact statements before Judge David Ritchie.

Kiana Hobson, sister of Jackson, asked the court to observe 32 seconds of silence in honor of her brother’s 32 years of life. Hobson said the family wanted justice.

“For my mother, this has been unbearable,” she said. “Damion was her first child, and it’s been so difficult for her and all of us. No parent should have to identify their child’s body at a morgue or to bury their child.”

Brogan Jackson said she will never forget answering the phone and hearing about Damion Jackson’s murder.

“I received a call that would forever change my life and my son’s life,” Jackson said. “My son had just had his first birthday. Damion has missed all of the birthdays, field trips, and so much more. My son asks me why he doesn’t have his father. He asks, ‘Why is my dad in heaven? When can I see him?’ It’s heartbreaking.

“This is what you took from my son.”

Ritchie said everyone has their own ideas of what justice is and his job is to determine justice within a sentence without getting emotionally wrapped up in a case.

“When you kill somebody, it’s forever and there should be a severe consequence,” Ritchie said. “Nobody can bring the victim back. The best we can do here is to bring a measure of justice.”

He sentenced Tutson to 40 years in prison.