Family and friends relieved over life sentence in mistaken identity killing | NBC4 Washington

now the latest on a case of mistaken identity that ended in Murder today the man who killed his ex-girlfriend's roommate was sentenced to two life prison terms one for the murder the other for setting the victim's body on fire Northern Virginia bureau chief Julie Cary spoke with the victim's family and friends who were pleased with the sentence but upset about what the killer had to say about the crime they came to court wearing t-shirts bearing the victim's picture and the words loved and remem

bered syia vodka AB was a wife of mother of two her friends called her Kelly one of them telling us in Spanish for us Kelly isn't dead she lives in our hearts she and others wiping away tears in the courtroom as the prosecutor described a most horrible crime on August 10th 2022 these ring camera videos presented during the trial show Richard Montano entering the Seven Corners apartment his ex-girlfriend shared with the victim and her husband Montano lay in weight knife in hand stab having the fi

rst woman to come through the door prosecutors say he expected it would be his ex but it was vodka AB she was stabbed more than 10 times then set on fire these photos showing burn marks in the carpet where clothing was used as an accelerant we blurred parts of the picture too graphic to show the prosecutor asking for the maximum sentence saying he had to have realized he was murdering the wrong person yet he kept going it takes a depraved mind to set a human being on fire and when the judge gave

the killer Richard Montano his chance to speak there was no apology No Remorse he's maintaining his innocence Montano telling the judge quote she was a friend I never would at any time cause harm to her to all those who Point their finger at me I want to say to them that my conscience is clear the judge sentencing him to two life terms telling Montano I can't bring Sylvia back but I can make sure you never walk free again the victim's friends relieved I feel happy with the just make a good deci

sion the victim's husband speaking to us in Spanish telling us a huge weight has been lifted I feel like there's Justice something that needed to happen but Montano's claim of Innocence hard for this group to hear he's lying he lying he don't feeling anything he need to to stay in the jail for ever and ever their focus now on the memories of their smiling cheerful friend in Fairfax County I'm Julie Carey news4 by the way Richard Montano's attorney told the judge that he plans to appeal