Dirk Huber is Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

In August 2011, Dirk Huber killed his long-time girlfriend Nicole Radebaugh by suffocating her with a pillow, in her apartment in Belfield.

Tuesday afternoon he was sentenced to 30 years for the crime.

The victim's family finally gets to address the man--who killed their daughter, sister and mother.

A year and a half after Dirk Huber killed his long-time girlfriend Nicole Radebaugh, her family gets to address him head-on.

"You took the most beautiful soul, she would have done anything for anyone, including you, she was a wonderful mom, and amazing daughter, and you ripped that away from us all." says Tracy Eastwood/Nicole's sister.

At his sentence hearing, friends and co-workers spoke on behalf of Dirk.

A neuro-psychologist testified that if Dirk had properly treated a childhood brain injury--compounded by drug and alcohol use-- the crime may have been avoided.

"Saying I'm sorry in a situation like this doesn't do it justice...Words can't describe, feelings that I have, remorse that I have." says Dirk Huber/Sentenced to 30 years for murder.

But, the victim's family did not have sympathy.

"Whatever you get today, you're getting off too easy, you should be in jail the rest of your life." says Tracy Eastwood/Nicole's sister.

"You don't just sit on them for ten minutes or whatever, however long it takes to kill somebody by sitting on them with a pillow over their face, that doesn't seem like a snap to me." says Ruth Radebaugh/Nicole's mom.

Prosecutor Tom Henning says they reluctantly agreed to a 30-year-cap during a plea agreement, only because they did not want to go through the trauma of a trial.

Especially the teenage daughter who addressed Huber directly.

"It's a shame we don't have the death sentence in North Dakota."

The judge made the official decision: 30 years.

"With that being said, I forgive you, so that I can move forward with my life, and remember my beautiful sister for who she was and not to wake up and think about what you did to her and our family."

After serving 85 percent of his 30-year-sentence, Huber could be up for parole.

He is 43-years-old.