THE brother of Aidan McAnespie says the former soldier found guilty of his killing only has remorse "for himself and what he went through".
Speaking outside Belfast Crown Court today, Sean McAnespie said they found proceedings "very difficult".
The court heard that imposing a custodial sentence on David Jonathan Holden (53), who was convicted of the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie, would be "unjust and unfair".
Former Grenadier guardsman Holden was the first veteran to be found guilty of a historical offence in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement.
He was due to be sentenced on Friday. Before hearing the pleas from both sides, the judge told the court that as "there are a number of issues that I have to consider", he would instead pass sentence next week.
In court, Holden's defence barrister made a plea for a suspended sentence in what he called a "unique" case, arguing it would be "unjust and unfair" to impose an immediate custodial sentence.
Regardless of what sentence is handed down, Holden is expected to serve only a maximum of two years in jail under the early release provisions of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Mr McAnespie (23) was killed in Aughnacloy in February 1988, moments after walking through a border security checkpoint. He was on his way to a GAA club when he was shot in the back.
Holden had admitted firing the shot which killed Mr McAnespie, but said he had discharged the weapon by accident because his hands were wet.
But trial judge Mr Justice O'Hara said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Holden was guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. He found that Holden had pointed a machine gun at McAnespie and pulled the trigger, while assuming the gun was not cocked.
During the hearing on Friday, defence barrister Frank O'Donoghue argued it was "exceptional" for an 18-year-old to be charged and convicted of gross negligence manslaughter in this manner. He told the court that military practice at the time was to place lethal weapons in remote areas of Northern Ireland which were manned by young, inexperienced soldiers.
"It is right to observe that just as Mr Holden has duties, as found by the court, towards members of the public, so too does the British Army. And the British Army has duties towards Mr Holden, and they grossly failed to discharge those duties with the consequences that have occurred."
Mr Holden's behaviour "belies a gross immaturity", he argued, adding it was accepted this is "a difficult sentencing exercise".
"This man has led an otherwise unblemished life" and there is evidence of "genuine remorse," he said.
The court heard Mr Holden was discharged from the military in 1990 and suffers from PTSD.
Prosecution counsel Ciaran Murphy said while the events "relate to an event a long time ago, it is relevant to everyone in society".
He raised the "profound loss" suffered by the McAnespie family and "enormous risk" taken by Holden when he was in no danger.
Speaking outside the court, Sean McAnespie said the family had "found it very difficult there today that we were thinking all through the case that Aidan was the victim, but today it seems that Mr Holden was the victim".
"The only remorse was for himself and what he went through. There was no word about Aidan over this last 35 years."
The hearing comes amid ongoing controversy over government plans to deal with the north's troubled past.
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill proposals provide an effective amnesty for those suspected of killings during the conflict, if they agree to co-operate with a new body, known as the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.
The bill would also prohibit future civil cases and inquests related to Troubles crimes.
Grainne Teggart from Amnesty International said: "The significance of this case is clear both for the McAnespies and particularly at a time when the UK government continues to push through the overwhelmingly opposed Troubles bill which cruelly betrays the many victims still seeking justice while protecting the perpetrators of manslaughter, murder, torture and other serious crimes".
Holden was released on bail pending sentencing.
