But the victim's family said the sight of deputies leading Todd Poorman, 29, from the courtroom in handcuffs brought them little closure.

"It's a little bit of justice, but still not enough," said Philip Rousseaux Sr., the father of the victim, Michel Rousseaux.

Poorman, who claimed self-defense in the Nov. 4, 2005, shooting, entered an Alford plea Aug. 5 to manslaughter as part of a plea agreement with the state.

An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain his innocence while admitting that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. It carries all the consequences of a guilty plea.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed to the five-year prison sentence - part of which Poorman already has served on house arrest. He will face the possibility of an additional five years in prison if he violates the conditions of his probation after his release.

"He's still getting away with a lot," Mr. Rousseaux said, recalling how the family once hoped Poorman would receive a sentence in the area of 25 to 30 years.

The sentencing brings an end to a nearly three-year-old criminal case that has repeatedly infuriated the Rousseaux family.

Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Alexander offered the plea agreement earlier this year as her case started falling apart.

Prosecutors initially charged Poorman with second-degree murder, manslaughter and two gun charges in connection with the death of Mr. Rousseaux.

Circuit Court Judge Paul A. Hackner, however, threw out the murder charge last year during a five-day jury trial. He ruled there wasn't enough evidence of an intentional killing to let the jury consider the charge.

While the jury eventually convicted Poorman of manslaughter and the two gun charges, Judge Hackner tossed the verdict. Jonathan H. Shoup, Poorman's first defense attorney, successfully argued in May 2007 that Assistant State's Attorney Frederick Paone prejudiced the jury by using the words "murder" and "execution" in his closing arguments.

Ms. Alexander took over the case late last year, only to see Circuit Court Judge Philip T. Caroom toss the gun charges on a technicality. The judge ruled that because the gun charges referenced a murder - not a manslaughter, the charges were invalid. He said the state should have amended the charges after the murder charge was stricken and before the statute of limitations ran out.

Without the gun charges, the maximum sentence Poorman could have received was 10 years in prison for the manslaughter, prompting prosecutors to make the deal instead of going to trial.

Judge Caroom urged the Rousseaux family yesterday to take their complaints about the case to the legislature.

"This court is not a legislature. We don't make the law as we think it should be. We apply the law as we find that it is today," he said.

The impact

The case took another turn this week as John Robinson III, Poorman's new defense attorney, urged Judge Caroom to enforce an oft-overlooked aspect of state law, and allow only one family member to address the court. He argued that the state law governing who can speak at sentencing is written in the singular and therefore only one "victim representative" should be allowed to speak.

Ms. Alexander and Russell Butler, executive director of the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center, argued that the law was written in the singular because the state's Department of Legislative Services style guide calls for laws to be written in the singular.

After more than an hour of verbal arguments, Judge Caroom allowed Mr. Rousseaux's parents and siblings to speak. The four family members told stories about his love of waterskiing, boats and automobiles. They called him the "glue" that held their family together.

"He was my favorite. I tried so hard for that not to be, but he was my favorite," said Sheila Rousseaux, Mr. Rousseaux's mother.

She said she can no longer teach special education students at Meade High School because of her grief, and she chastised the court system for tossing out a jury's verdict and being too easy on the defendant.

"My daily goal now is to find hope," she said.

Mr. Rousseaux's father chastised Poorman and the court.

"You are walking away with a petty conviction," he said. "Young man, may God have mercy on your soul."

Poorman watched each member of the Rousseaux family speak, but did not address the court himself.

The shooting

Poorman admitted shooting Mr. Rousseaux six times inside his house at 8035 Crainmont Drive East, but he claimed self-defense.

Poorman told police Mr. Rousseaux came to his house, left, and returned 15 minutes later with a .357-caliber Magnum revolver. Poorman said Mr. Rousseaux forced his way inside his house, that they struggled and that Poorman ended up with the gun. He said he turned his head away and fired at Mr. Rousseaux.

Prosecutors said the two were arguing over an outstanding debt.

Prosecutors, Mr. Rousseaux's family and the original jury didn't buy Poorman's self-defense argument.

Ms. Alexander noted that the majority of the blood on the walls of the home was at knee-level or below, proving that Mr. Rousseaux was on the ground when he was shot. She also noted that Poorman shot Mr. Rousseaux six times - in the forehead, right shoulder, chest, left arm, middle back and right back.

While the ordeal is not quite over for the Rousseauxs - a wrongful death civil suit is scheduled for trial on Oct. 28 - they are trying to look toward the future.

"I don't really care about Todd anymore. I just want our family to heal," said Philip Rousseaux Jr., Mr. Rousseaux's older brother. "Nothing is going to bring back Mike and nothing is gong to erase the pain my family has gone through."