(WSBT) The mother of a murdered South Bend police officer is outraged after hearing why her son's killer shouldn't spend the rest of his life in prison.

"She said she doesn't get to see her son. I never get to see my son ever again!” cried Kathy Karczewski, Scott Severns’ mother.

Jeffrey Finley, 19, admits shooting and killing an off-duty officer, but told the judge Wednesday he doesn't know why he did it.

Finley testified Wednesday in the first of two sentencing hearings.

He pleaded guilty in May 2006 to killing Corporal Scott Severns in April 2006 during an attempted armed robbery.

The judge didn't hand down a sentence. He won't decide until another hearing later this month.

Wednesday, the judge heard testimony from Jeffrey Finley, his mother, and also from the woman who was there during the attempted robbery, who said Finley knew exactly what he was doing.

Inside a courtroom packed with friends, family, and police Wednesday, Michelle Beelby recounted what happened the night of April 21, 2006.

"This wakes up a lot of old emotions,” said South Bend Police Chief Tom Fautz.

Beelby was Scott Severns’ girlfriend, standing in the parking lot with him, when she says someone walked up to them, tried to rob them, then began shooting.

Severns was shot four times. He died the next day.

Wednesday, hoping to spare her son from life in prison, Cassandra Finley also took the stand, telling the judge her son isn't a cold-blooded criminal, but a "momma's boy,” her best child, who went to church and never got into trouble.

Finley himself told the judge he bought the gun used in the shooting months earlier for protection.

He said he didn't think about robbing Severns until he passed by the parking lot and saw him.

"This was a spur of the moment robbery and the shooting never even occurred to him until that very moment,” said Phillip Skodinski, Finley’s lawyer.

Finley's mom asked the judge not to give her son life without parole, telling him, "I know kids do stupid stuff, but I don't think he should be punished forever."

Scott Severns family was outraged.

"I never get to see my son ever again! She gets to talk to him every day. His sister doesn't get to see him, well you know what, my daughter never gets to see her brother ever again,” Karczewski told WSBT News. “And they want leniency? I'm sorry. No! No.”

The prosecution said Finley did know what he was doing, driving around and spotting Severns, then walking by minutes later to make sure he was still there, and coming back again to actually try and rob him.

Finley was asked why he did it; both times he said he simply has no explanation — but that he was sorry and feels terrible.

A judge will decide his sentence September 26.

The other man involved in Corporal Severns' death is also awaiting his sentence.

Mijell Redding drove the getaway car. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery earlier this year.

A judge delayed his sentencing so he would be available to testify against Finley, if necessary.