Crown prosecutors are asking that convicted killer Gary Johnston serve 17 to 21 years of his life sentence before applying for parole.
A sentencing hearing is under way in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.
In April, 13 years after 42-year-old New Westminster trucker Victor Fraser was stabbed to death, Justice Robert Crawford convicted Johnston of second-degree murder.
Those found guilty of second-degree murder get a life sentence, but the period of time before being eligible to apply for parole can vary from 10 to 25 years.
On March 10, 1998, Johnston rode his bike to the Surrey home of Fraser's sister, Jeanie, where he broke in and started piling items in the living room.
Fraser walked into the house during the robbery, and when Fraser's back was turned Johnston - who knew Fraser because he used to live next door to Jeanie - stabbed Fraser nine times. He also smashed a clay pot on Fraser's head and kicked him in the ribs.
Johnston took Fraser's wallet and fled.
The same day Johnston confessed to his brother that he'd killed Fraser. Years later, he also confessed to an undercover police officer posing as the head of a criminal organization.
Crown prosecutor Adam Jantunen said Fraser was the true victim of a brutal and vicious murder.
"He was vulnerable because he simply didn't see this coming," Jantunen said.
Jantunen highlighted Johnston's criminal past, which he described as extensive and lifelong.
Johnston's adult criminal record dates back to 1977 and includes convictions for assault, extortion and break and enter.
Johnston was also convicted of manslaughter after Fraser's murder.
"In the Crown's submission, there's no evident prospect of rehabilitation for Mr. Johnston," Jantunen said.
In a victim-impact statement, Jeanie told Crawford that she's proud to be Fraser's sister and she misses him every day.
"I have a lifetime sentence, a lifetime," she said.
Defence lawyer Georgia Docolas argued that although the crime was "violent and terrible," the Crown overstated some of the aggravating factors of the case.
She suggested instead a 10- to 15-year period of parole ineligibility.
Crawford will deliver his decision on Nov. 3.
