A Chinese-Canadian who conspired with at least two others in the kidnapping and killing of a Chinese student in Vancouver in 2015 was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 14 years behind bars.

The jury delivered the verdict earlier this week, more than a year after the gruesome case.

Zhang Tianyi, 25, had been prosecuted for kidnap, first-degree murder and commitment of indignities to the body of the victim, Sun Peng. He only pleaded guilty to manslaughter and unlawful confinement, but denied other charges.

Zhang read an apology to Sun’s family, ‍who have traveled from Beijing to attend the trial, while standing in court. The victim’s father Sun Cang, however, said they were strongly disappointed with the ruling and believed the defendant showed no remorse for his evildoing.

“We respect Canadian laws, but if a criminal can get away with his culpability as long as he keeps silent, we simply can’t accept the result, the sentence is too lenient, and the chief plotter is still at large,” said Sun Cang, who broke down in tears several times during the trial, “Zhang Tianyi showed no emotion in the court, he didn’t apologize wholeheartedly.”

The nightmare of the Sun’s family started on September 2015.

Zhang was introduced by a second man in connection with Sun’s abduction and murder, Casey James Hiscoe, to the architect of the plot, Jay, who was looking for a target to kidnap for a ransom.

They eyed Sun Peng, an acquaintance of Zhang.

On the evening of September 27, Zhang tricked Sun to a vacant apartment owned by his uncle, under the guise of a party invitation, and confined him along with Casey and Jay.

The kidnappers then used Sun’s phone to call his parents, asking for 2.5 million Canadian dollars in exchange of his son.

The kidnappers repeatedly made calls to the family in the following hours, threatening to cut Sun’s fingers if the money failed to be received in time.

The father hastily paid 325,000 Canadian dollars as they requested, unknowing that the sum will not bring back his son, who would die later in the evening.

The next morning, Zhang found Sun out of breath, with his face and head all taped. The autopsy report later showed Sun had died from suffocation.

An innocent man’s death did not stop the trio from continuing to extort money from Sun’s parents.

For the bereaved father, the ruling is far from enough to soothe their pain.

“I don’t feel justice is being served. If that’s the law in Canada, it’s unfair.”

Zhang will be repatriated back to China after completing the remaining 11 years and 11 months of imprisonment.

Earlier this month, Casey James Hiscoe also pleaded guilty to conspiring to unlawful confinement and to being an accessory after the fact to murder. Details of Hiscoe’s involvement in the case are expected to be outlined during his sentencing hearing. Two other men arrested and charged in the case have had their charges stayed.