The teen duo that plead guilty to the murder of a Chinese newspaper executive were sentenced today, but not before the defense went toe-to-toe with the judge.

Chris Levy, 18 and Cory Azor, 18 were sent to prison for 22 and 20 years, respectively, for the murder of David Kao, 49 who was a marketing executive at the World Journal.

Moments before sentencing, Levy’s lawyer Robert Weinstein blasted prosecutors for the severity of the sentencing. “He didn’t intentionally kill Mr. Kao, no weapons were involved. Kao was severely intoxicated…,” Weinstein said as the judge stopped his rant.

“Before you go any further, do you want to go to trial?” Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory Lasak asked Weinstein.

They each plead guilty for manslaughter and robbery in January.

“He faces 50 years. Do you want to go to trial?” he asked again.

Weinstein quickly changed his tone, “I just wanted to make it clear to the court that there was no weapon involved, he admitted his involvement; never denied it.”

Levy and Azor each admitted to police that they attacked and robbed Kao as he was sleeping inside his Lexus in June 2009. Azor –who received the lesser sentence– confessed to dragging Kao into the back seat of his car and Levy strangled him to death. They left his body at the scene and fled in the car, according to the Queens DA’s office.

The pair were found two days later in Kao’s vehicle with a third accomplice, Keron Wilthshire, 19 who is currently awaiting a five year sentencing for the robbery.

The three also admitted to holding up a 42-year-old Asian man for his cell phone and money a few week prior to Kao.

The prosecutor promptly denounced the defenses statements.

“My uncle was the only father figure I’ve ever known,” said Kao’s heartbroken niece, Christine Chu as she read from her impact statement. “We have to now feel constant sadness and loneliness. Our pack of three has become two,” she continued as she failed to hold back her tears.

“There is no winners here in this courtroom, only loser,” Judge Lasak said before sentencing the co-defendants. “You two will probably lose the best years of your lives in prison.”

Kao worked with the Flushing-based newspaper for 11 years.