HUDSON — A Hudson man was sentenced to four to ten years in state prison for the accidental shooting of his best friend last December.

Christopher Bazar, 27, pleaded guilty in Hillsborough County Superior Court in Nashua on Wednesday to manslaughter in the death of 29-year-old Donald St. Laurent.

Bazar sobbed and repeated “I’m so sorry” at the hearing.

The St. Laurent family stood behind Bazar throughout the case, describing the pair as best friends and the shooting a reckless act.

“He loved Chris like a brother and I know this was an accident,” Deb St. Laurent, the victim’s mother, said in a statement to the judge.

His father, Donald St. Laurent, told the court that a long prison sentence for Bazar would be “almost like losing two sons.”

Despite the family’s “generosity” is asking for a lenient sentence, prosecutors felt the sentence should also act as a deterrent for others to think twice before acting recklessly with guns and alcohol.

“No one in this room believes Chris Bazar acted on purpose, but the result is the same, Donald St. Laurent is dead,” said Patricia LaFrance, first assistant Hillsborough County attorney.

As part of his sentence Bazar agreed to participate in programs and media presentations to increase awareness of issues relating to firearm safety and drug and alcohol abuse. Bazar told police he had been drinking a small amount of beer and smoking marijuana on the night of shooting, but officers did not find him to be intoxicated, according to prosecutors.

Public Defender Edward Cross Jr. said Bazar agreed to do the presentations without hesitation. His client wants to do what he can to lessen the St. Laurent’s pain and, if possible, prevent a similar tragedy from happening to someone else, Cross said.

“I think it’s going to take a lot out of Chris to do that,” Cross said. “The emotions he expressed were quite real.”

LaFrance later said the presentations presented an opportunity to try and make something positive out of a tragedy. The emotion in Bazar’s voice on the 911 tape can send a powerful, compelling message to others, she said. St. Laurent was shot Dec. 2 in the Windham Road residence he shared with his mother. Bazar had been staying with them since arriving from New Mexico a few months earlier. St. Laurent first met Bazar on a trip to Santa Fe years earlier and they remained friends, according to family members.

- - - - - - - -

Julie Hanson may be reached at Jhanson@newstote.com.