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The ex-boyfriend of Maple Batalia has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 21 years for the second-degree murder of the Surrey teen.

Gurjinder Dhaliwal had originally been charged with first-degree murder in Batalia’s death, but just as the trial was set to begin he shocked the courtroom by pleading guilty to second-degree.

Batalia, 19, was gunned down after a late-night study session at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus on Sept. 28, 2011. She was shot five times, three of which hit her torso. She also had 11 cuts on the top and back of her head.

Batalia was studying to become a dermatologist, but was also an aspiring actress and model.

Dhaliwal’s “associate,” Gursimar Singh Bedi, was charged with manslaughter and being an accessory after the fact. While Bedi was released, Dhaliwal has been in custody since his arrest.

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Bedi was expected in court Monday afternoon, but his appearance has been postponed until Tuesday.