A8

The Canadian Press

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HALIFAX - Jerrell Johnston hugged his family before he was led away to prison for trying to kill a man at an East Preston, N.S., after-hours bar.

The 27-year-old father of two was sentenced yesterday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court to 9 1/2 years for the attempted murder of Vantino Beals in December 2006.

Justice Felix Cacchione gave Johnston double credit for the almost 17 months he spent on remand, but refused a defence request for consideration for time on supervised bail.

The minimum sentence for attempted murder using a firearm is four years.

Neither Beals nor any of his supporters attended the sentencing and the Crown received no victim impact statements.

A jury found Johnston guilty on the charge in February, but acquitted him of second-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Martaze Provo and Brandon Beals at the same party.