Four years after a Lawrence man was murdered, the man responsible once again was sentenced to life in prison.

A Douglas County District Court judge handed down the life sentence Tuesday to 28-year-old Lafayette Cosby. Last month, a jury convicted Cosby – for a second time – of premeditated first-degree murder in the April 2004 death of Robert Martin.

Last year, the Kansas Supreme Court ordered a new trial, ruling there were errors made during the original trial by the prosecutor at the time and the judge.

Friends and relatives of the victim said that sitting through a second trial was difficult, and the sentencing brought them little relief. Martin died after he was shot at a small late-night party at a southern Lawrence apartment complex.

“I think it was ridiculous,” Martin’s mother, Eula Hoel, said. “He was guilty the first time. We shouldn’t have had to go through this all over again.”

Cosby – who has already served more than 1,400 days behind bars – will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years. He said nothing at Tuesday’s sentencing, but his attorney said the conviction would be appealed.