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Father's last words to his son were `I love you' continued from p.3 Akbari was initially charged with seconddegree murder, but pled guilty to manslaughter. Langer received an 18-month conditional sentence, with no jail time, in March after pleading guilty to being an accessory to aggravated assault. Following Akbari's Tuesday sentencing hearing at Milton Superior Court, John Stairs, Stairs' father reacted to the eight-year prison term his son's killer now faces. "I don't think there are any winners here," he said. "At the end of the day , after eight years they get their son and brother back. My son is never returning. It's the end of a chapter, we'll put it that way , but the destruction on both sides is huge." John described Stairs as a loving son with a great sense of humour who had lots of friends, A memorial that was placed at the corner of Kerr and John streets at the time 31-year-old Christopher Stairs was Christopher Stairs loved working out and had dreams of one day killed. | Oakville Beaver file photo said he understands their grief as his father died becoming a personal trainer. ent things would be." he has caused him and his family, ending his of a sudden heart attack in 2012. He ended with John said his son was not perfect. Stairs had John said the day after his son's death he went comments with `Rest in peace Chris Stairs. I love a wish the Stairs family members could recover brushes with the law and had spent time in pristo the crime scene where he was saddened and you..." and cursing Akbari. from their grief. on, but said that was not who his son was. angered to see a pool of his son's blood staining Stairs' mother, Carol, said her family is trying Before handing down Akbari's sentence, Jus"He made some bad decisions, he got into the snow with tire tracks running through it. He to move on, but said occasions like Christmas tice G. Miller described Stairs' death as a sensetrouble, but I don't think he set out to have a said he is haunted by thoughts of how scared his are sad with a chair empty at the dinner table. less crime with tragic consequences. career as a criminal," said John. son must have been and what went through his She said she still cries for her son. She said the need to denounce this type of "He was really trying to redirect his life after mind as he bled to death over several minutes. Stairs' sister, Emily, said she wants Akbari to violence and the damage done to the Stairs famhis last time in jail because he recognized he was Stairs' twin Matthew , who is currently serv- live a long life with the knowledge of the pain ily had to be tempered with Akbari's high prosgetting older, approaching middle age. He really ing time in jail, was present to tell the court the he has caused. pects for rehabilitation and settled on a prison wanted to settle down, maybe have a family of shock of his brother's murder has been traumatic, Before his sentencing, Akbari apologized to sentence of eight years. his own, but recognized he had to support that that he has had counselling, experienced suicidal the Stairs family, stating Stairs' death was not John Stairs said he would work to oppose any legitimately with a job or some kind of career thoughts and been in trouble with the law. As something that was supposed to happen. He kind of early parole for Akbari. and that he would probably need additional Matthew and Stairs were adopted, he said he has training to do that." lost the only blood relative of whom he is aware . During the hearing, Crown Attorney Monica Matthew said Akbari has no idea what pain MacKenzie called for a sentence of nine to 10 years, stating Akbari's decisions to carry a concealed knife and flee the scene rather than get help for Stairs warranted a prison term. Akbari's lawyer, Anser Farooq, argued a six-year sentence was appropriate because Akbari was a first-time offender, had turned himself in, pled guilty and a witness said Stairs was "beating the crap out of (Akbari) -- punching him right in the face" at the time of the stabbing. Farooq said those who know Akbari describe him as a quiet, respectful student who has worked multiple part-time jobs since age 14 so he could Buy direct from the factory afford to attend university. 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