VANCOUVER – The defence lawyer for a man who has admitted to the execution-style shooting of his ex-girlfriend says his client killed out of jealousy and a desire to control.

But Russ Chamberlain says Ninderjit Singh did not maliciously or deliberately plan to murder 18-year-old Poonam Randhawa, before he left her body in a Vancouver alleyway 14 years ago.

Chamberlain asked a B.C. Supreme Court judge to consider sentencing the 33-year-old at the minimum parole eligibility of 10 years, saying he will be deported to India after serving his sentence.

The lawyer says over the past five years his client has demonstrated he is a loving father and husband, and will at least be able to continue his redemption in India with visits to his two daughters there because he’ll never be legally able to return to Canada or the U.S.

Court has heard Randhawa had a lengthy, secretive relationship with Singh in her teenage years but she ended it after she was stalked and beaten by him.

Singh was arrested for the murder 13 years later in California and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month.