An American teenager charged over the death of Australian baseballer Chris Lane has been handed a life sentence after he pleaded guilty to the random drive-by killing in 2013 . Michael Jones , who was charged along with two other US teenagers , will not be eligible for parole until he is 56-years-old . Jones , who was the driver of the car from which a bullet was fired at Lane , begged for forgiveness as he was sentenced a minimum of 38 years in prison , the ABC reports . Lane , 22 , from Melbourne , was shot in the back on August 16 , 2013 , in what police said was a random killing as he ran along a road in Duncan , southern Oklahoma , where he was on a sporting scholarship . American Michael Dewayne Jones has been sentenced to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his involvement in the killing of Christopher Lane . The two other teens , charged with first-degree murder and accessory in the first , will face court next month . They were 17 and 16 at the time of the baseballer ’ s death . In December 2013 , in the first courageous interview since her son ’ s death , Lane ’ s mother Donna Lane told the Daily Mail she doesn ’ t care what happens to the teens charged with killing her son . 'It 's not going to bring my Chris back , ' she said . Ms Lane told how she had shed tears every day for her only son , admitting that even though he had been living in the US for the past four years her life in Melbourne has been empty knowing he 's never coming back for a visit . At her home in the suburb of Pascoe Vale , lying between Melbourne city centre and the airport , Donna opened a photograph album put together as a special memorial for her by his friends in the US . Lane ( left and right ) , 22 , from Melbourne , was shot in the back on August 16 , 2013 , in what police said was a random killing as he ran along a road in Duncan , southern Oklahoma , where he was on a sporting scholarship . Right there on the first page was a shot that makes her so proud - Chris in his baseball strip crouching , waiting for a catch . 'He was always good with the ball almost as soon as he could walk , ' she said , turning the pages , smiling at one of him poking his tongue out at the camera . ' I 'm not at all surprised he ended up as such a talented player . ' I know that his friends see him as a brilliant catcher and while he might be a super-hero to them he 's still my son and what strikes me all the time is that even though he 's so special I ca n't have him back . 'People ask me all the time what I think about the three who have been arrested in connection with his murder . But do you know what - I do n't care . Donna Lane , mother of shot Australian baseball player Chris Lane , holds a framed Christmas card he and his girlfriend Sarah Harper had sent her on an earlier , happy festive season . Chris Lane with his girlfriend Sarah Harper during a visit to Australia , when Sarah took the opportunity to cuddle a koala . ' I do n't care if they go to prison for life or if they walk free again . Whatever happens to them is n't going to bring Chris back . I 'm not interested in what happens to them . 'What 's the point of looking for some kind of retribution ? How is it going to change things for me and my family ? 'My friends tell me that if those three do walk free they might do it again , you know , hurt somebody else , but whatever happens over there now still does n't affect me in any way whatsoever . 'What 's done is done and I ca n't turn the clock back , ' the devastated mother added . Chris was on a scholarship at the East Central University as a team catcher when he was killed . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .
Michael Jones drove the car from which Chris Lane , 22 , was shot at . Lane , from Melbourne , was killed on next month while jogging . He was shot in the back on a street in Oklahoma . Two other teens will face court , charged with first degree murder and accessory in the first , August 2013 .