Does time change the crime?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11996917/

He lied for 37 years. I suspect had I murdered someone over money, I would too...So here we have an odd situation. A murder, which has no statute of limitations, is solved after 37 years...and they give the guy 4 years. What is the point? It certainly is not going to reform him...he apparently has become a solid, law abiding citizen. 4 years is not exactly fair retribution for taking 40 - 50 years of someone else's life away. Yes, he did something terrible, but does this make our world better? And note, that is not a rhetorical question...I honestly can't say if I think the punishment is too harsh, to too lenient, needed or extraneous.