A Surrey teenager has been sentenced to six months in a youth detention facility and 30 months of intensive rehabilitation for stabbing a 42-year-old man to death over a stolen cell phone.

The teen, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was just 15-years-old when he plunged a blade into Sam McGowan's chest on Aug. 5, 2009.

McGowan chased the armed youth, who had stolen his son's phone, under a porch before being stabbed. The teen was charged with second-degree murder, but a B.C. Supreme Court jury convicted him on a lesser count of manslaughter in June 2011.

Justice Laura Gerow handed down the three-year combined sentence on Friday, offering her condolences to McGowan's loved ones.

"No sentence will ever restore him to you, his family and his friends," Gerow said.

The deceased's girlfriend, Michelle Proulx, and her daughters reacted to the decision outside the New Westminster courtroom, calling for stronger punishments for young offenders.

"There should be a fine line. Growing up, it's almost normal for kids to shoplift… a lot of kids do it. Murder? It doesn't matter if you're five-years-old or 15-years-old. It's a serious crime," Proulx said.

Proulx said she and her daughters are reminded of their heartbreaking loss every time they see violent crimes reported on television.

"You can't watch the news and hear about crimes like this without shedding a tear," Proulx said. "The case is over now but it's never going to be over because… seeing what's going on is a constant and daily reminder."

Her daughter Macky described McGowan as a constant source of happiness in their family home.

"My mom would wait at the window because he'd always drive his car up… My mom would wait and when she'd see him at the window coming home from work she'd get all excited, and Sam would come in and it would be awesome," she said.

Crown prosecutors had called for an 18-month jail sentence followed by another 18 months under community supervision, while defence lawyer David Tarnow had asked for one day in prison followed by rehabilitation.

Tarnow said his client was disappointed by the length of his youth detention term, but has not decided on a possible appeal.

"He had done remarkably well in the two-and-a-half years since the offence. Rehabilitated himself, did everything asked of him of the courts, been at school, worked part-time, done counselling, and he's very disappointed that the judge decided some jail would be necessary under the circumstances."

During his rehabilitation the youth will be under a number of conditions, including a curfew, and he has been given a lifetime weapons ban.