The mother of two men killed in 2005 after their party host refused to pay strippers asked that the young women get the maximum sentence possible yesterday for calling on four gunmen to intercede in the dispute.

She didn't get her wish. Common Pleas Judge Lester G. Nauhaus gave one of the women probation and the other credit for time served.

"You had to know by calling murderers that they would handle the situation like they usually do," Argie Lyerly told the women. "Now you're sorry for what happened. Well, guess what? So am I."

Judge Nauhaus decided against further punishment for the pair, who had both served jail time and were initially charged with homicide. He acknowledged the importance of their testimony against the assailants and said he did not see a reason to punish them further.

He sentenced Geneva Burrell, 31, of Edgewood, to two years of probation and ordered her to pay court costs for her guilty pleas to burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. She previously spent about 26 months in jail, which the judge counted as part of her sentence.

Prior to sentencing, Ms. Burrell, who ran the stripping business under the name "Black Cherry," told the judge, "I do apologize to the lady that lost her sons. I have to live with that every day of my life."

Like Ms. Burrell, LaAngel Potter, 25, of East Pittsburgh, who worked under the name "Spice," cried as she stood before the judge, stating, "I'm not a cruel person ... I dream about [the homicides] all the time."

He sentenced her to time served for her guilty plea to conspiracy to commit burglary. She had spent about a month in jail, which counted as part of her sentence.

Three co-defendants had previously been sentenced in the shooting deaths of T.C. Preston Lyerly, 36, of Wilkinsburg, who was celebrating his birthday at a Penn Hills home on Feb. 19, 2005, and his brother, Chaoe D. Davis, 22, of East Liberty.

Erik R. Surratt, 20, of Braddock, is serving two consecutive life sentences for two counts of first-degree murder and an additional 25 to 50 years for burglary, conspiracy and attempted murder in the nonfatal shooting of party host Kevilin Middleton.

Alfon R. Brown, 32, of North Braddock, was given two concurrent life sentences for two counts of second-degree murder plus eight to 16 years for burglary and conspiracy.

Ramone S. Coto, 23, of Braddock, received two concurrent life sentences for two counts of second-degree murder plus three to six years for burglary.

The judge also convicted co-defendant Richard G. Cunningham, 25, of Braddock, of second-degree murder in the slaying of the two brothers. His sentencing is set for Sept. 22.

As for the strippers who got the ball rolling, the victims' mother said, "I truly think they're sorry ... but I also think they knew what was going to happen."

Ms. Lyerly said she has received an apology letter from Mr. Coto and has come to peace with the other men: "I have to forgive all of them because if I can't forgive them, God can't forgive me."