A man pleaded guilty in court Wednesday for a fatal incident in which a victim was struck in the head with a bottle in March 2010. The victim, Garth Isfeld, died hours later in hospital.

The defence is asking for leniency in sentencing for Darren Hall, arguing the exact cause of death is unclear.

"If he was man enough to plead guilty, he deserves his time in jail. He took a life," said Elia Bevacqua. She was present at the party in March 2010 and watched Isfeld, her brother-in-law, ask the accused to leave.

A fight broke out.

Court heard how Hall took out a beer bottle and hit Isfeld with it. The 44-year-old man fell backwards and struck his head.

Hall then began jumping up and down, saying "one hit, one hit," court heard.

Isfeld had been attending his daughter's 18th birthday party in North Kildonan.

The defence argued it wasn't the blow that killed Isfeld but the cocktail of sedatives he was given afterwards at hospital. When Isfeld initially refused a CT scan, he was given drugs. While later inside the machine, he began to vomit and then went into cardiac arrest.

"If it wasn't for Darren (Hall) hitting Garth Isfeld over the head, he wouldn't have been in the hospital," said Bevacqua.

Isfeld's family also feels Concordia Hospital has some explaining to do.

Both the Crown and the defence asked repeatedly for medical records, but so far they haven't been handed over.

Isfeld's family is considering legal action.

"Get those answers the Crown and judge didn't get. I would like to see closure," said Clarence Isfeld, Garth's brother.

The Crown in the case is asking for a four-year sentence, while the defence argues three years is fair.

Hall, a 25-year-old father of four, has a Grade 9 education and has a lengthy criminal record, including assault and sexual assault.

He was under supervised probation at the time of killing.

In court, he apologized to the family, saying, "I regret my actions cost a life. All I can say is I'm sorry I can't bring back Garth."

Isfeld's family, however, doesn't believe the apology.

"Him sitting there pretending to cry so he thinks the judge will have sympathy for him and give him three years," said Bevacqua.

A final decision on sentencing is expected to be made next week. The judge will also be considering pre-sentence custody. Hall has already served two years.

The defence is asking for a 1.5 year credit for each of those years.

If that is granted, Hall could become a free man as he would have already served the equivalent to three years.

- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley