(CNN) -- Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords stood next to her husband in court Thursday as he spoke directly to Jared Loughner, the Arizona man who tried to assassinate the then-congresswoman in a January 2011 shooting. 

"Mr. Loughner, you may have put a bullet through her head, but you haven't put a dent in her spirit and her commitment to make the world a better place," former astronaut Mark Kelly said. 

Giffords was seriously wounded when Loughner walked up and shot her in the head during her meet-and-greet event with constituents outside a Tucson grocery store on January 8, 2011. A federal judge, a congressional aide and four others were killed and 12 other people suffered wounds. 

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns sentenced Loughner to serve the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. The punishment includes seven consecutive life terms plus 140 years. 

"The evidence clearly shows that he knew what he was doing, despite his mental illness," the judge said. 

Loughner, 24, spoke just once, confirming to the judge that he would make no statement before sentencing. "That is true," he said. 

Giffords shooting survivors seek federal help in tightening gun laws 

Beside the dramatic appearance by Giffords and her husband, nine other victims spoke at the sentencing hearing held in a packed federal courtroom in Tuscon. 

Kelly, in an interview Thursday evening with CNN's Piers Morgan, said hearing what they had to say "was really a tough thing" for Giffords. 

"Gabby said afterwards, for her the biggest emotion was just sadness," Kelly said. "To hear story after story of what the impact of this horrible day had on people was really difficult." 
Who shot Ms. Giffords?
What year did he shoot her?
What state is he from?
How many others were also shot?
Where did the shooting take place?
On what month and day did it take place?
What's the name of the judge who sentenced Loughner?
How long will Loughner's sentence be?
How many of the other victims were at the hearing?
How old was Loughner during the time of the hearing?
What emotion did Giffords feel after the hearing?
Why did she feel sad?
Jared Loughner
Jared Loughner, the Arizona man who tried to assassinate the then-congresswoman in a January 2011 shooting. 
In 2011
a January 2011 shooting. 
He was from Arizona
Jared Loughner, the Arizona man
16 people were shot
 A federal judge, a congressional aide and four others were killed and 12 other people suffered wounds. 
outside a Tucson grocery store
 outside a Tucson grocery store
January
January
His name is Larry Burns
U.S. District Judge Larry Burns
Seven consecutive life terms plus 140 years.
The punishment includes seven consecutive life terms plus 140 years.
There were 9
nine other victims spoke at the sentencing hearing held in a packed federal courtroom in Tuscon.
24
Loughner, 24,
just sadness,
"Gabby said afterwards, for her the biggest emotion was just sadness,
hearing story after story of what the impact of this horrible day had on people
"To hear story after story of what the impact of this horrible day had on people was really difficult."