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Leonard sentenced to life without parole in Auburn killings

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) A judge on Tuesday sentenced a 25-year-old man to life in prison for killing two former Auburn University football players and another man during a shooting at an off-campus party.

Lee County Judge Jacob Walker on Tuesday upheld the jury's recommendation of life in prison without parole for Desmonte Leonard. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty.

A jury convicted Leonard of capital murder in the 2012 shooting deaths of former Auburn football players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips along with DeMario Pitts.

Leonard told Walker on Tuesday that he was sorry for what happened and that no one deserved to die. Leonard testified during his trial that he fired in self-defense because he feared for his life.

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