A 22-year-old Harvey man who was behind the wheel at the time of a late-night crash in 2017 that killed his younger brother and injured a friend has been sentenced to nine months in jail.

The sentence will allow Brandon Forret to take responsibility for his crimes and move on, said Fredericton provincial court Judge Mary Jane Richards.

"When you've paid your debt to yourself and your family, you will be freer to live your life," she told Forret Wednesday, as he and his relatives wept.

"I encourage you to live your life to the best of your ability, for yourself and in memory of your brother."

Richards suggested Forret's brother Dawson, who was 16 when he died in the crash, wouldn't want his older sibling to suffer for his actions.

"He … would want you to live your life to its fullest extent," she said.

Brandon Forret previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his brother and dangerous driving causing bodily harm to Dawson's best friend, Teagan Wilcox in connection with the Oct. 5, 2017 crash.

He was driving an estimated 160 to 176 km/h along Route 640 — twice the posted speed limit — when the passenger side tires of the Saturn Ion hit the shoulder and he lost control of the vehicle, the court heard.

The car spun across the road and into the ditch, where it smashed into a rock wall, just a kilometre and a half from the Forret home.

All three occupants were ejected from the vehicle. None wore a seatbelt.

The Saturn Ion Brandon Forret was driving, following the fatal crash on Oct. 5, 2017. (Submitted)

Richards said the sentence had to reflect the gravity of the offences, denounce Forret's behaviour and serve as a deterrent to others.

She sentenced Forret to nine months for the death of his brother and six months concurrent for causing bodily injury to Wilcox.

She also imposed one year of supervised probation and prohibited Forret from driving for two years.

Outside the courthouse, family and friends were in tears. One woman shouted that the sentence was unjust. Forret is not a killer, she said; it was an accident.

Brandon Forret, pictured here with his father Sean, and late brother, Dawson. (Facebook/Brandon Forret)

The Crown had recommended a sentence of 12 to 15 months, describing the matter as a "serious crime."

The defence had argued for no jail time, saying Forret is punished every day of his life.

"I live with this every day, what I did to my brother," Forret previously told the court.

The three young men were on their way back from visiting a friend in Fredericton around midnight when the crash occurred in Yoho, about 28 kilometres southwest of the capital.

Brandon Forret was accompanied by his girlfriend Karlee Grieve for his sentencing in Fredericton provincial court on Wednesday. (Catherine Harrop/CBC)

No alcohol was involved and Forret had no previous criminal record.

He did have three prior speeding tickets, the courtroom heard.

Dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, while the maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing bodily harm is 10 years.

Forret, who arrived at the courthouse holding hands with his girlfriend, handed her his necklace and cellphone before being escorted out in handcuffs by sheriffs.