A central Illinois judge has refused to reconsider the 8 1/2-year prison sentence for a 25-year-old man convicted of choking his roommate to death during a party.

Xavier Cordova was living in Champaign with Mitchell Robinson in September 2009.

Prosecutors say Cordova put Robinson in a choke hold during the party in Normal.

Police say Cordova admitted grabbing his roommate "to tire him out" and didn't mean to kill him.

McLean County Judge James Souk told Cordova Friday that he doesn't believe he's accepted responsibility for the grief he's caused.

Cordova's attorney sought a shorter sentence because Cordova is diabetic, and he says he isn't receiving proper medical care in prison.