The sentencing hearing for the man charged, and convicted, in the 2006 swarming and killing of Dylan McGillis began in an Edmonton courtroom Tuesday, with emotional testimony from the victim’s family.

McGillis, 20, was swarmed and stabbed to death on November 19, 2006 on Whyte Avenue.

In the summer of 2011, police arrested and charged Cleophas Decoine-Zuniga, now 26, with manslaughter in connection to McGillis’ death.

Decoine-Zuniga was found guilty by a judge in October, 2013 – after a month-long trial, where court heard he confessed to an undercover officer about stomping McGillis before he was stabbed.

The sentencing hearing began Tuesday in Edmonton.

In court, many of the 16 victim impact statements submitted in the case were read out loud.

The victim’s father, Grant McGillis, read his statement in court Tuesday.

“You are responsible for sending so many people to a dark place that has been so hard to climb out of,” McGillis said Tuesday.

McGillis went on to talk about his granddaughter, the victim’s daughter, who was born a few months after her father’s death.

“My granddaughter cried about not meeting her daddy. She has even said she wishes she could die and go to heaven to be with daddy,” McGillis said – the girl, now 7-years-old, is being raised by her grandparents.

“I want you to know I despise you. It makes me sick to my stomach to have to look at your face knowing what you did to my son.”

McGillis’ mother said her son would be remembered as kind and unique, but she said the way he died has haunted her over the last seven years.

In court, she said “I used to believe there was good in everyone, but not now…my soul has been wounded and I know it will never heal.”

Later on, Decoine-Zuniga spoke in court, saying “I’d never ask for you to forgive me…because I’d be asking for too much.”

The Crown is asking for a sentence of between 4 and six years, while the defence has asked for a sentence between three and four years.

Sentencing was put over until March 19, Decoine-Zuniga will remain in custody until then.

With files from Veronica Jubinville