60 Years For Connecticut Man Who Beat, Burned Woman To Death
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A man was hit with the maximum sentence of 60 years in prison last week, after being convicted in the beating and burning death of a Bridgeport, Conn., woman.
Johan Batista, 35, was sentenced Friday by Bridgeport Superior Court Judge John Kavanewsky Jr. who said he forfeited the right to be a member of a free society, the Connecticut Post reported.
Batista was convicted in April of murder, felony murder and robbery in the killing of Wanda Gonzalez, 36.
Police said Gonzalez's battered and charred body was still smoldering when they found her in her apartment on Aug. 6, 2006. Authorities say they caught Batista with Gonzalez's jewelry and cellphone, but his girlfriend provided an alibi.
Police said Batista's girlfriend admitted he forced her to lie about the alibi and she confessed to witnessing the killing.
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