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Shawn Hennessey and his wife Christine arrive at the courthouse in Stony Plain, Alta., on June 6, 2008.Ian Jackson

Two men jailed for their role in the shooting deaths of four Mounties near Mayerthorpe, Alta., have lost their appeal for shorter sentences.

Shawn Hennessey and Dennis Cheeseman were sentenced to 15 years and 12 years respectively after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Lawyers for the two men argued that the sentences were vengeful and too severe.

Two of three Appeal Court justices wrote that the sentences were appropriate, and noted that the trial judge reduced the sentences by giving each man three years of credit.

They also wrote that gunman James Roszko probably would not have succeeded in killing the Mounties on March 3, 2005, without their help.

One of the three justices wrote a dissenting opinion that said Mr. Cheeseman did almost nothing to facilitate the crime and the court should reconsider his sentence.

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