BEND, Ore. -- Emotional words were read in court Wednesday from family members of a Bend man who died after a street fight with a friend, as the friend offered apologies and learned just how long he'll spend in prison for the crime.

Shawn Owen, 37, and Darrell Harrington, 29, were fighting over a girl back in December when it turned into a physical fight, that left Owen dead.

Now, the manslaughter case is closed, and Harrington will spend more than six years behind bars.

In the heat of the moment, on a cold December day, something went too far.

Harrington's lawyer says he too has been devastated by what happened.

In court, it was these words Shawn Owen's parents wanted to hear:

"I'm deeply sorry for what happened to Shawn,” Harrington said, looking down and reading from a piece of paper on the courtroom table. “What happened that night got out of control, and I'm sorry for that."

It all started on Allen Road, near Columbia Park. Officers say the two men got into an argument, then a fight, and in the end, Owen lay unconscious on the ground, his injuries so severe, he died at the hospital.

Bend police would spend the next few days combing the icy street, looking for evidence, talking to witnesses.

Those witnesses would recall different versions of exactly what happened, but the medical examiner found it was blunt force trauma to the head that killed Owen.

Harrington -- and lawyers on both sides – say it was all an accident.

"But know that there was no malicious intentions,” he said in court, telling the family members listening in, “Shawn was a friend of mine, and I'm deeply sorry for your loss."

Owen’s parents couldn't be in court, but they listened by phone, as letters from family members were read.

His brother wrote: "I would like to thank Mr. Harrington for owning up to his actions."

His mother said, "It hurts that Shawn died at the age of 37 in such a senseless manner. I'm grateful he didn't suffer a painful death."

And from his uncle: "I have no illusions about Shawn's lifestyle and understand that he was a participant in this tragic incident. But the heat of that moment does not - and cannot - justify the death of Shawn."

"I don't hate you,” the uncle’s letter to Harrington continued. “I hate that you have been caught up in the darkness of life and acted out. I would like to think that the punishment you're about to endure turns out to be a blessing, as strange as that may seem."

Harrington will get credit for the eight months he's already served in jail. He was also sentenced Wednesday on separate charges, including assaulting a police officer and DUII. But prison time on those counts will not add to his sentence.