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A man who admitted to manslaughter in the death of a Surrey hockey mom told court he never thought in a million years that he would be capable of causing such harm.

A judge handed Yosef Gopaul a combined 12-year prison sentence on Friday for the death of Julie Paskall and for another robbery he committed at a bus stop just weeks before attacking her.

Provincial court heard that Gopaul, 28, hit Paskall with a rock while she was waiting outside a hockey arena for her 16-year-old son, who had been refereeing a minor hockey game.

Paskall died in hospital two days later, on Dec. 31, 2013.

"I'm sorry for the pain I caused," Gopaul told court, adding her loss "kills me inside."

"I never thought in a million years the blood of someone would be on my hands. I did not know her, but what I assume is she was a great wife, mother and friend. I know you most probably hate me, but I just have to let you know how truly sorry I am."

Gopaul told Judge Paul Dohm that he'll be seeking the help he needs for rehabilitation.

"I see now first hand my actions that cause me to be who I am."

Gopaul said he will get his high school diploma and complete any programs offered to him.

"This way I may be better and be a better member of community and society. Maybe even somehow, who knows, I may be able to help kids who struggle with anger and aggression, maybe be a better person and stop the cycle of crime."

Crown lawyer Wendy Stephen read from an agreed statement of facts.

"When asked how hard he threw the rock he answered, 'Hard enough to knock her out,' which is all he wanted to do,'" she said.

"He did not intend to kill her, he only wanted to steal her purse."

Stephen presented a joint submission by the Crown and defence for a 12-year sentence for the two crimes, minus credit for pre-trial custody of 18 months.

The judge confirmed the sentence of 12 years for both counts, saying society and the court must strongly denounce such senseless violence.

"These crimes did terrorize the community," Dohm said.

With the time Gopaul has already spent in jail awaiting trial, he'll serve about 10 and a half years.

An autopsy showed Paskall, who was 53, died of cardiac arrhythmia and that her heart disease made her vulnerable.

It found she died from her heart stopping after the blunt force trauma and a hard fall onto the pavement.

A rock the size of a grapefruit was discovered near her body. DNA from Paskall and an unknown person was discovered on the rock.

That DNA prompted a police operation that led to Gopaul, who confessed both crimes to an undercover officer.

Stephen told the court that Gopaul has 29 criminal convictions going back to age 16 and that six of those were violent crimes, including assault with a weapon.

"It was a huge event in the community and people continue to feel the effects of the fear that was caused by Mr. Gopaul's actions."

Angry residents demanded solutions to the high crime rate as Paskall's death became the 25th homicide in 2013.

Even before she was killed, the mayor had launched a task force to come up with answers.

Gopaul, who had moved to Surrey from Ontario just eight weeks before Paskall's death, was arrested and charged in May last year.

Earlier this week, the federal government announced funding for 100 more RCMP officers in Surrey, and $3.5 million over five for an anti-gang program.

Supt. Bill Fordy of the Surrey RCMP said in a news release on Friday that several families have been left to deal with the devastation created by Gopaul's crimes.

"I hope the submissions and guilty plea assist them in their journey towards healing."