A convicted killer's lawyer called a judge's comments to the victim's family "one of the most moving statements I've ever heard a judge give" in a sentencing Tuesday in Spokane County Superior Court.

Judge Jerome Leveque urged the family of Timothy Eby, who was stabbed to death by 53-year-old Terry Conner, to live his legacy and urged Conner to pay attention.

"Your life isn't over," Leveque told Conner, though the judge said the man likely will die in prison. "And to the family, the things common to all of you - you all referenced a man who had a tremendous belief in what can be. He never gave that up. That is a tremendous legacy. I extend my condolences to everyone."

Public Defender Ed Carroll praised Leveque's statement. "He was right. Don't let yourselves get torn apart by this," Carroll said to Eby's family.

Conner was sentenced to 31 years in prison Tuesday.

Read Tom Clouses's story on the sentencing here.

Past coverage:

Dec. 8, 2008: Slaying may have been over $7.25

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