SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Cicero man will spend at least two decades behind bars, for killing another man and then disposing of the body.

Corey Slattery was sentenced to 20 years to life Thursday morning.

Slattery killed Aikeem Hudgins at the Bayshore Apartment Complex in 2016. He then burned the victim's body in an attempt to cover up the crime.

Hudgins' parents addressed the court, his father saying he can't come to grips with how his son was treated like an animal after his death.

"Corey's position from day one, from the day I met him, was that he was acting in self-defense. I know this is hindsight, and he did what he did, but if Corey had just taken the time to call the police, we might not be where we are today, unfortunately,” said Nicholas DeMartino, the defense attorney.

Another person, Connie Ingoldby, previously admitted to helping Slattery dispose of the body. She pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution, in exchange for a sentence of 1 to 3 years in prison.