RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The trial of a Raleigh store owner who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of a customer in April 2023 has come to a close. The owner of Taz’s Supermarket, Taiseer Zarka, is set to spend more than 5 years in prison, according to the sentencing given by Judge Keith Gregory shortly before noon on Thursday. At minimum, Zarka will spend 64 months behind bars and at maximum, 89 months. North Carolina store owner who fatally stabbed man in store found guilty of manslaughter On Wednesday, Zarka was found guilty by a 12-person jury on the charge of voluntary manslaughter in the death of 27-year-old Mark Garrity. Shortly after the guilty verdict had been delivered on Wednesday, the victim's father, Mark Garrity Sr., provided CBS 17 with the following statement: “We are disgusted and will continue to fight for justice for Mark. We will make sure Taiseer Zarka’s past is exposed. He has victimized too many people. It was cold-blooded murder of our 27-year-old son. The justice system is broken and the police waited too long to arrest him. Because of his criminal past being expunged, the jury didn’t know they were looking at the devil.” Taiseer Zarka testifies in court on Dec. 16, 2024, before his conviction and sentencing. (CBS 17) During the trial, Zarka's defense team argued that Garrity was attempting to steal a Gatorade bottle from the convenience store at the time of the stabbing and that Zarka felt threatened by him. Thursday's proceedings included impact statements and character witnesses from the prosecution and the defense. These statements were taken into consideration by Judge Gregory before he handed down the sentencing decision. Both Garrity's mother and father spoke to the judge and jury in Zarka's presence on Thursday to provide insight into the life of their 27-year-old son and the impact his death has had on their lives. Garrity's mother read from a list of 27 things about her son. Among them, she said he loved Christmas, his family and was an incredibly hard worker. “I need to be clear and say, without a doubt, my son was the strongest, bravest soul I ever knew. And I am proud of him. I'm proud of you, Mark and what you did and conquered in your short life,” Garrity’s mother Amy said. Garrity’s parents also asked the judge to give Zarka the maximum possible sentence. “The defendant has no respect for human life and he thought nothing of my son's life. Never offered an apology, showed zero remorse while my son was lying in the street, suffering and bleeding to death,” Garrity’s mother said. Once the defense began calling witnesses, Mark's side walked out of the courtroom. The defense presented that Zarka has been a person of good character and reputation in the community who supports his family. “People come to his store and if they are hungry, he will pull some money out of his own pocket and give it to them,” said Zarka’s longtime friend, Munir Triash. In giving his own witness statement, Zarka repeatedly told the court, "Things happen." In thinking back to the encounter with Garrity, he said he wished Garrity "would've listened" to him. "Their son is with God now," Zarka added. "I'm sorry it happened from the bottom of my heart and I wish his family peace as much as I wish my family peace because they're going to be in pain, especially my 8-year-old baby girl." When it came time for Judge Gregory to issue his sentence, he mentioned how character witnesses for Zarka attested to the kind man he is—one who would help others, give food to those who needed it and take the shirt off his back. "Why wasn't he that person on April 6, 2023?" Judge Gregory asked. "Why didn't he just give him the drink?" "Mr. Zarka had a choice," Judge Gregory added. He also brought up comments made about Garrity and his struggles with addiction. "His addiction didn't kill him. Mr. Zarka did." In the end, the judge sentenced Zarka to 64 months minimum to 89 months maximum in prison. This, he said, will be an active prison sentence and Zarka must participate in anger management classes available to him while in prison. If none are available, Judge Gregory said this must be done during Zarka's post-release supervision period. Additionally, Zarka will need to complete 100 community service hours. "I don't know your pain," the judge said to Garrity's parents, thanking them for the way they conducted themselves throughout the trial before dismissing the courtroom. The Garrity family did not offer comment following the sentencing and asked for time to heal. "We are strong and we are going to work through this," one of Zarka's family members told CBS 17 after the sentencing was issued. "It's an unfortunate situation." A second family member claimed the media owes an apology for "making a big deal" over a Gatorade.