The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that Pedro Simental had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the manslaughter death of 40-year-old Edleigha Little.

Authorities alleged that Simental struck Little in the head with a can of beans. Simental pleaded guilty to First-Degree Manslaughter last month.

In a follow-up interview, law enforcement claims Simental described a physical altercation with Little and admitted he “may have struck the victim in the left side of her head with a can.”

The State and Defense recommended a 15-year-old prison sentence. During a hearing on Monday, the victim’s niece spoke saying her aunt was a caring, thoughtful person. She also accused the defendant of regularly abusing the victim.

The niece asked the judge to impose a lengthy sentence so he could not “do this to another woman and her family.”