Serial killer Bruce McArthur has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
The 67-year-old self-employed landscaper pleaded guilty last week to murdering eight men with ties to Toronto's gay village.
The Crown had been seeking a life sentence with no chance of parole for 50 years and the defence has asked that sentences for all eight first-degree murder counts be served concurrently, which would make McArthur eligible for parole in 25 years.
First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years, but when there are several convictions, the court can impose consecutive periods of parole ineligibility.
Mcarthur admitted to sexually assaulting many of his victims before killing them.
In handing down his sentence Friday morning, the judge noted that a four-month jury would have been traumatized by being forced to listen to the gruesome evidence and look at the graphic photos.
He said the law is clear that a guilty plea is a mitigating factor.
As part of previous court proceedings, victim impact statements will be read to allow the victim's family members to address the court.
Court also heard, police found items belonging to the victims as well as a bag with duct tape, rope, zip ties, syringes, a bungee cord and surgical gloves, all in Mcarthur's apartment.
He has admitted to murdering Andrew Kinsman, Selim Esen, Majeed Kayhan, Dean Lisowick, Soroush Mahmudi, Skandaraj Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi and Kirushna Kanagaratnam.
— With files from The Canadian Press