GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The man charged in the death of a gay man outside a Greenville County nightclub last year has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Deputies said 20-year-old Sean Kennedy was attacked on May 16, 2007, in the parking lot of the former Brew’s nightclub by Stephen Moller. Kennedy later died from his injuries.

According to witnesses, Moller shouted anti-gay slurs just before he attacked Kennedy.

Moller was originally charged with murder in the case. However, in November 2007 a Greenville County grand jury handed down an indictment for a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter against Moller.

Moller appeared in a Greenville County courtroom on Wednesday afternoon where he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge.

Judge Ned Miller sentenced Moller to five years in prison, but suspended his sentence to three years with credit for the seven months in prison he has already served. The judge also ordered Moller to attend both anger management and drug/alcohol management classes.

During the hearing, Moller apologized to the Kennedy family who was in the courtroom.

“I have to live with it every day,” Moller said. “I wish this had never happened. I’m sorry.”

Moller must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

After the hearing, Moller’s attorney, Ryan Beasley, said the incident was not motivated out of hatred for gays. He said Moller did not know Kennedy was gay until after the attack.

Kennedy’s mother, Elke Kennedy, talked to the media outside the courthouse. She called the sentence a “joke” and “a slap on the wrist.”

“There is no justice for Sean today,” Elke Kennedy said.