For the third time, Antonio D. Sims' mother and aunt sat in a St. Paul courtroom and watched as the third man was sentenced to prison for his role in the shooting death of Sims.

For the third time, a clergywoman and family friend stood before the judge and spoke of how much Sims meant to his family and how heartsick it makes her when she sees young people devaluing human life and wasting their own lives.

With that, Ramsey County District Judge Rosanne Nathanson sentenced Edward Lee Grayson, 21, to more than 10 years. He will have to serve almost seven years in prison before he is eligible for release.

Sims, 20, was killed the night of Feb. 11 in the parking lot of JJ's Fish & Chicken on W. University Avenue in St. Paul. According to court documents, he climbed into the back seat of a car carrying three men. Sims handed a bag of marijuana to a front-seat passenger -- Deondre R. Cush -- who handed it back. Mychel A. Stowers then shot Sims twice. Grayson was the driver and pleaded guilty in June to third-degree murder. Cush pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in the killing and was sentenced Aug. 1 to 39 months. Stowers pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced in July to 25 1/2 years.

The three men were ordered to pay restitution to Sims' family of more than $10,400.

PAT PHEIFER