Raminder Bhandher will be spending several years in prison for a 2008 murder, a B.C. Supreme Court judge announced Friday. (Mike Laanela/CBC)

What police call "a reign of terror" has ended with the sentencing Friday of a man convicted of murder in a 2008 Surrey shooting.

Raminder Bhandher was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 10 years in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.

Bhandher, 32, was convicted of second-degree murder in July for the shooting death of Tejvir Singh Bains in his home in January 2008.

"Today's sentencing ends a reign of terror that Mr. Bhandher conducted in the community for years," said Cpl. Dale Carr, of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. "By his own admissions in court, Bhander was involved in the criminal lifestyle for years and was a profoundly immature, selfish man."

Bhander was arrested weeks after killing Bains, 24, and has since remained in custody.

"Bhandher was known to use violence to settle a lot of his disputes, no matter how trivial," said Carr. "In this instance, the jury saw fit to say enough is enough."

Bhandher as long been known to police.

He testified for the defence during the Air India bombing trial in Vancouver in 2004. He said accused Air India bombing conspirator Ripudaman Singh Malik was "like a father" to him.

Under cross-examination by the Crown prosecutor at that trial, Bhandher admitted he made a career out of credit card fraud, drug trafficking and had previously lied under oath.

Malik was later acquitted.