A Bridgeport man will serve seven years in prison for his role in the 2014 slaying of a father of four outside a city restaurant.

Gregory Hughes, 33, was the getaway driver on July 25, 2014, when another man gunned down Derrick Hill, also 33, at the Rootsman Kitchen on Park Avenue.

Police say Hughes knew his passenger intended to kill Hill that night.

Dolice Hill, the victim's mother, says the grief is still fresh three years later.

"It's very painful losing a loved one, especially a son," she says. "One of these days, I'm hoping he's gonna pick up the phone and call me. It's just hard."

She says the short sentence doesn't bother her because other criminals have literally gotten away with murder -- police are still trying to track down the gunman.

"At least he'll have to serve something," she says.