A man who killed two Mac's convenience store clerks in December 2015 has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Laylin Delorme and two accomplices robbed and shot Karanpal Bhangu and Ricky Cenabre three years ago. The clerks were working overnight shifts alone at two Edmonton Mac's stores.

Edmonton Court of Queen's Bench Justice Robert Graesser rejected the Crown's request to impose consecutive sentences, which would have made Delorme wait 50 years to apply for parole.

Delorme was convicted by a jury earlier this year of two counts of first-degree murder. A relative of Delorme's who was 13 years old at the time of the shootings was convicted on two counts of manslaughter. A third accused, Colton Steinhauer, is scheduled to go to trial next year on two counts of first-degree murder.

"These were cold, senseless killings," Graesser said. "The victims had co-operated fully. There was no need for there to be any shootings, let alone killings."

Surveillance video shows clerk Ricky Cenabre opening the till at the request of a masked gunman during a robbery at a Mac's convenience store on Dec. 18, 2015. (Court of Queen's Bench)

The judge called the crimes "planned and deliberate" and refused to accept Delorme's explanation that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he committed the offences.

"I reject drug and alcohol abuse as any excuse," Graesser said. "There was minimal evidence of alcohol impairment and no evidence of impairment by drugs."

The judge described the excuse as a self-serving attempt by Delorme to shift some of the blame.

Despite the nature of the crimes, Graesser decided that consecutive sentences would not have been appropriate given the killer's difficult upbringing and Indigenous background.

Such a crushing sentence, he said, would remove any incentive for rehabilitation.

"A prisoner should have some hope that a sentence will end," Graesser said.

Delorme, 27, showed no reaction in the prisoner's box when the sentence was imposed.

The judge addressed some of his comments to Cenabre's family.

"This case has tragically impacted so many people," Graesser said. "I hope the Cenabre family will not be too dismayed by the sentence."

The judge said he hoped the family may one day be able to forgive Delorme.

"But forgiveness must be earned and not just given because it's requested," he said. "Mr. Delorme has a minimum of 25 years to prove he's worthy of some forgiveness."

Cenabre's niece, Faith Alcazaren, said the family had already decided to accept whatever sentence the judge imposed.

"Even with how many years he would stay in prison, that wouldn't change the fact we have lost our family member," she said. "But 25 years, even 100 years, is not enough."

Confrontation in courthouse

Emotions boiled over in the courthouse lobby following the hearing, as members of Delorme's family passed by Cenabre's wife, niece and 18-year-old son. There was a scream, then Cenabre's wife and niece were seen physically holding back the visibly upset teenager. Cenabre's wife collapsed to the floor sobbing, as sheriffs intervened and tried to de-escalate the situation.

Cenabre's niece alleges members of the other group threatened them.

Listen as Cenabre's niece describes confrontation outside court

Faith Faith Alcazaren says members of Laylin Delorme's family threatened her family outside the courtroom after the sentence was read. 0:37

"I'm so scared," Alcazaren later told reporters. "These two guys went to us and then he said, 'Get out from our country. You do not belong here. Or else something will happen.' "

CBC News witnessed the aftermath of the encounter but did not hear the exchange. Delorme's family left the courthouse without commenting to media.

Alcazaren said she has reported the incident to police and will meet with a detective Wednesday.