A Winnipeg man has been sentenced to 4½ years behind bars for his role in the beating death of a man who was found outside his North End home last January.

Zenon Bozynski, 48, died on Jan. 16, 2011, after being beaten and left outside the Redwood Avenue rooming house where he lived. (CBC)

Jamie Jossens Morrisseau received the sentence on Monday in connection with the January 2011 death of Zenon Bozynski, 48. Morrisseau has already spent time in custody, which will be subtracted from his sentence.

Bozynski was found badly beaten outside a Redwood Avenue rooming house near his home on Jan. 15, 2011. He died in hospital the next day.

Police have said they could not say exactly how long Bozynski had been lying outside — with temperatures around –20 C — but they said he was not dressed appropriately for the weather.

At the time of the death, police said a woman living in another suite at the home called 911 to complain someone was banging at her door and that she thought someone was trying to break in.

She also called her brother and a friend for assistance, police said.

Time passed, and the noise stopped, so the woman called police back to say they weren't needed any more.

Police said two men showed up some time after that.

Hours later, police were called back to the scene for a report of an injured man lying outside.

Morrisseau, who was originally charged with second-degree murder in Bozynski's death, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

In addition to the prison sentence, Morrisseau was handed a lifetime prohibition on weapons. As well, he is required to provide a DNA sample to authorities.