BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A fight in a grocery store parking lot on New Year's Day 2023 ended with Demetrius Ford Jr. throwing a punch that dropped a store employee.

Juan Carlos Urvina, 54, hit his head on the concrete. He died hours later.

Ford, 32, instigated the fight and was significantly younger and bigger than Urvina, who was attempting to act as a peacekeeper when struck.

Judge John Oglesby considered those factors Tuesday at Ford's sentencing hearing and imposed an 11-year prison term -- the maximum Ford faced after being found guilty of voluntary manslaughter.

Oglesby didn't believe Ford intended death, "but he still killed someone, and that family grieves."

The maximum sentence was requested by prosecutor Cole Sherman. Defense attorney Greg Mitts had asked for probation

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