Christopher Edward Nicely was sentenced Friday to serve six years in prison for the beating death of a Manassas-area man.
A jury in April found Nicely, 23, guilty of second-degree murder for the Jan. 13, 2008, death of 46-year-old John Anderson and recommended the six-year sentence.
Prince William Circuit Court Judge William D. Hamblen imposed all of the recommended sentence and ordered Nicely to serve three years of probation.
Nicely was accused of kicking Anderson to death with steel toed boots during an argument. A second man, Jason John Ward, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for Anderson's death and will be sentenced in August.
Hamblen called Anderson's death a "sad and tragic event."
"I am struck by how unnecessary it was and is and always will be," Hamblen said before announcing Nicely's sentence.
According to evidence presented at Nicely's trial, Anderson, Nicely, Ward and Carlin Beavers were drinking and listening to music in a workshop on Beavers' property in the 5200 block of Sudley Road on Jan. 13, 2008.
At some point Anderson, who the other men said was not invited and very intoxicated, pushed Beavers.
Nicely told Anderson he had to leave, and as he showed Anderson out, Anderson hit him.
The two began fighting outside the workshop.
At some point, Anderson became unconcious and Nicely continued to kick him, wearing steel-toed boots, prosecutors said.
Ward said he and Nicely then took Anderson to his car. They put him in the back seat and drove it to Robin Road, less than a mile away.
Anderson was found dead in his car the next day.
Nicely and Ward turned themselves in to police on Jan. 17, after reading newspaper reports that Anderson had died.
A medical examiner said Anderson died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso.
Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.
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