The woman charged in connection to the death of a U of A pharmacy student nearly one year ago was given her sentence Thursday.

Stephanie Beckley, 27, from Kamloops, B.C. was charged with drunk driving causing death in a crash that occurred at 178 Street and 76 Avenue on February 21, 2011, and left a young U of A student dead.

Police said at the time, Beckley had been driver her Jeep north on 178 Street when she allegedly drove through an amber light, striking the passenger side of a Honda Civic – which was turning left from 178 Street onto 76 Avenue.

Laura Chee, 23, who was in the passenger's seat of the Civic at the time, was taken to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

However, she succumbed to her injuries a short time later.

Court heard victim impact statements from loved ones of Laura Chee on Thursday.

"My family and I have been sentenced to an unnecessary punishment for the rest of our lives," Lillian Chee, sister of the victim, said in court.

"The love of my life, my identity, was taken from me that evening," Laura Chee's boyfriend David Lam said.

"The loss of her life has left me without direction."

On Thursday, the judge agreed to a joint submission on Beckley's sentence in the case.

Day said Beckley will serve three years in a federal penitentiary – followed by a five-year driving prohibition.

"It's not the sentence I would have imposed," Justice Fred Day said in court. "I would have sentenced her to four years imprisonment."

He said his decision would have included a stiffer sentence if it wasn't a joint submission.

With files from Bill Fortier