SAN DIEGO -- A man who admitted smoking crack cocaine before a hit and run that killed a San Diego boy will spend the rest of life in prison.

One uncle's determination helped pave the way for the conviction.

After a year of heartbreak for the family of Zachary Foster, 3, it took a Florida jury only 24 minutes to decide the fate of the man who killed him.

Outside the courthouse, a mother's torn emotions.

“Our hearts are broken forever. He'll never know what he took from us. I'm glad justice was served,” said Zachary’s mother, Amy Foster.

Back in San Diego, there was relief after Kenneth Edwards was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“He knew what he was doing when he got behind the wheel,” said Zachary’s uncle, Bryan Gladis.

Edwards, who didn't have a license, admitted drinking and smoking crack before plowing into a yard and crushing Zachary against a parked car.

Zachary's mother then saw Edwards get out to take a look.

“She grabbed him and said `Wait a minute, you can't go!’ He said `To hell with you. I'm out of here,’ Gladis said.

Edwards drove off but was eventually caught. When prosecutors said they wanted a plea bargain with the repeat felon, Gladis flew to Florida and pestered prosecutors.

“I basically told her, `Look at this guy, do you want him to get out of prison and live next door to you?” Gladis said.

The prosecutors listened and used a law similar to the 3-strikes law to win a life sentence.

“He had such disregard for the life he left. He's not going to hurt anybody who's free again,” Gladis said.

In court, Edwards did apologize to the family.

But family members said that remorse came a year too late.