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Convicted wife killer, Luc Tieman, sentenced to 55 years

Sentencing comes a month after a jury returned a quick guilty verdict against Luc Tieman

SKOWHEGAN (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Prosecutors got their request as a judge sentenced Luc Tieman to 55 years in prison for the murder of his wife.

The decision followed heart-rending statements from the family of Valerie Tieman. Her body was found in August 2016, having been shot to death and buried a grave on property owned by Luc Tieman's parents in Fairfield. Buried with her were a bag of potato chips and an apology note bearing Luc Tieman's signature.

► TIMELINE | The Murder of Valerie Tieman

The sentencing Friday morning in Somerset County Superior Court in Skowhegan came a month after the trial ended. The jury returned with a guilty verdict after a relatively short period of deliberation.

Friends of Valerie Tieman gathered at the United Methodist Church in Fairfield to celberate her life. Many described her as “vivacious” — having the ability to light up a room.

As part of her statement at the sentencing procedings, Valerie Tieman's mother said, "The heartache and grief are real. I am overwhelmed with disgust to know that Luc still denies what happened. He is an evil-hearted man and for that reason he deserves a sentence of life in prison."

► EXCLUSIVE | Tieman's Testimony: Why the man convicted of murdering his wife says he's innocent

Luc Tieman's mother also spoke on behalf of her son. She asked the court to "consider the whole life of our son Luc Tieman, I don’t ask you to ignore evidence, but I ask you to consider the whole person, and I ask you to balance justice with mercy."

NEWS CENTER Maine will update this story

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