The family of a three-year-old Nova Scotia boy who was beaten to death by his father says they will never be the same after the tragedy.

James Joseph Peter-Paul, 29, admitted to beating Matthew James Raymond Peter-Paul, but he said he didn't intend to kill the toddler.

The Indian Brook man was charged with second-degree murder in May 2011 but today he pleaded guilty to a lesser offence of manslaughter in Shubenacadie provincial court.

He was then sentenced to eight years in prison, minus the 89 days he has already spent in custody.

"With discussions between the Crown and defence we arrived at a joint recommendation of eight years to put before His Honour," said Crown prosecutor Jillian Ryan.

Peter-Paul was home with his son on the Indian Brook First Nation on the night of Oct 1. 2010. The court heard that police responded to a 911 call at the residence shortly after 11:30 p.m. that night.

When they arrived, police found Matthew was unresponsive and he was rushed to the Colchester Regional Hospital where he died the next morning.

The court also heard that the boy suffered blunt force trauma to his head, a fractured leg and his head, face and body were covered in bruises.

The cause of death was a ruptured pancreas caused by blunt force trauma to the abdominal wall.

The boy's mother, Allisan Tucker, was working in Toronto at the time of the assault. She spoke in court today.

"More than anger, sadness, injustice are my feelings of empathy as a mother for my child," said Tucker. "It physically pains me to think of my little baby going through so much pain.

In his darkest hour he didn't have anyone to hold his hand."

Tucker told CTV News that her son was taken into custody by social services when he was just four-weeks-old. He was given back to her a few days later, on the condition that he wouldn't see his father.

But Tucker says she came to trust Peter-Paul to take care of Matthew and didn't see a problem with them being together while she worked in Toronto.

The defence lawyer in the case says Peter-Paul didn't intend to kill his son.

"He feels very badly," says defence lawyer Brian Bailey. "He is Matthew's father and he is deeply remorseful for what transpired, what took place.

Jamie would very much like to have that day back to do over. Regrettably, that's not going to happen."

Matthew's family says they would like to have that day back too and that the little boy was their sunshine.

Peter-Paul was sent directly back to prison today after his court appearance and sentencing.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl