A Surrey man who strangled his wife and then hid her body inside their young son's bed has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.

Justice Terry Schultes sentenced Kamaljit Singh Dhanoa, 35, on Friday afternoon at B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.

The Crown argued for a prison term of seven to 10 years and the defence, five to seven. Dhanoa also received double credit for the time he'd already served in custody while awaiting trial. That means he'll actually be serving two years and five months more in jail.

Originally charged with second-degree murder, Dhanoa pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter for killing his 32year-old wife, Tejinder Kaur Dhanoa, at the couple's home at 13058 English Pl., on Jan. 6, 2010.

During the sentencing hearing Friday Crown prosecutor Craig Yamashiro noted that the couple's decade-long marriage, which was arranged in India, had at the outset been "marred with consistent conflict and stress." They lived with their two young children and Kamaljit's mother and father in their Newton house.

After hearing this, Kamaljit Dhanoa dabbed his eyes with a Kleenex. His lawyer, Richard Peck, noted that a psychiatrist found his client to be a low risk for future violence. "His remorse is genuine," Peck said. "There's no subterfuge here.

"It was totally out of character."

From the prisoner's box, Kamaljit Dhanoa made a statement, though much of it was inaudible.

"I wish I could go back in time," he said. "My mistake caused a lot of pain... I'm sincerely very sorry for what happened."

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