Iqaluit (Jan 24/05) - The 20-year-old man convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Davidee Nowdlak was given a three-year sentence on Jan. 14.

With equal credit given to two and a half years in custody, the Iqaluit man will serve another six months at the youth centre before beginning a three-year conditional sentence.

Nowdlak, 47, died Aug. 6, 2002, more than two weeks after being struck repeatedly on the head while unconscious.

In October, Justice Earl Johnson found the man - who cannot be named because he was a young offender at the time of the crime - guilty of second-degree murder. During sentencing, Johnson said he took into account a report showing progress made by the man.

"It is clear to me that (he) has gained insight into his conduct and has made significant progress in his rehabilitation," Johnson said.

About 30 people, many of whom sat with their hands clasped in their laps, showed up to hear the sentence. Johnson acknowledged the pain and suffering of Nowdlak's family.

Sporting a short hair cut and wearing a double-breasted blue blazer as he had for most of the proceedings, the accused addressed the court during sentencing submissions on Jan. 11.

Reading a short, prepared apology to Nowdlak's family members, he told of knowing what it was like to lose a loved one.

During a brief recess requested by the Crown after hearing the sentence, a woman sat crying quietly at the back of the courtroom. She was assisted out of the room by a younger woman.

As part of the conditional sentence, the man must be under the supervision of a parole officer, live in Apex with a family member, remain within Nunavut and attend counselling programs as directed by his probation officer.

The Crown said it will seek to have the man's remaining six months in custody served at the Baffin Correctional Centre.