The lawyer defending a teen Mongrel Mob member sentenced to a year of home detention for his part in the death of a man, says sending him to prison would be inhumane

Tana Ormsby-Turner attacked a 23-year-old father of two with a claw hammer, but it was the earlier stab wound, delivered by another gangster, which ended up killing him.

The Crown has appealed the sentence, arguing home detention is inadequate for such a serious crime.

But his defence says the sentence is not an insignificant period in the life of a young person.

Lawyer Kylie Pascoe says the teen has demonstrated genuine remorse and is achieving well in an educational setting.

The three Justices hearing the case in the Court of Appeal, have reserved their decision.