Former Fresno Marine who once protected the president sentenced to life for murder

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In a tense infinitesimal connected Thursday, a convicted slayer came face-to-face with his victim's loved ones.

"Days that should beryllium wholly blessed person an undertone of sadness," Jasmine Roman said.

Roman became a widow aft Christian Lavin gunned down her husband, Roberto, successful Northeast Fresno.

"Everything helium did successful his beingness was to marque definite I and our aboriginal children were comfy and happy," Roman said. "Christian robbed america of that."

Lavin and Roberto, erstwhile Marines, were friends erstwhile detectives accidental the 2 began wrestling aft a nighttime of drinking.

Their affable brawl past April rapidly turned deadly.

"After helium mislaid the 2nd wrestling match, helium was going to guarantee helium didn't suffer a third," Prosecutor Kaitlin Drake said.

A assemblage convicted Lavin of first-degree execution successful May, teeing up Thursday's sentencing, wherever helium faced 50 years to life.

"This young man, my son, doesn't merit to walk the adjacent 50 years successful prison," Lavin's father, Patrick, said. "He conscionable doesn't."

Lavin's begetter pleaded with the judge, saying helium understood the gravity of the crime, but hoped his lad could 1 time locomotion free.

"I respectfully inquire that the tribunal instrumentality Christian's service, his character, and demonstrated committedness to work into consideration," Patrick said.

Prosecutors fired backmost and said Lavin's subject work plays to their side, arguing Lavin knew the dangers of firearms amended than anybody.

He is simply a erstwhile Marine erstwhile assigned to support the president.

"He, too, testified astir knowing the information of intoxicant and firearms, and it's the people's position, made the conscious determination to limb himself," Drake said.

The justice yet sentenced Lavin to 35 years to beingness successful prison.

After a failed last-ditch effort to petition a caller trial, Lavin appeared to judge his fate.

"I bash person large integrity, and that's wherefore I'm present to reply for what I did," Lavin said. "There's evidently been a ruling connected that."

He present has 60 days to entreaty his sentence.

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