Markus Kaarma was sentenced to 70 years in prison Thursday for killing a German exchange student in his garage last April.
Before pronouncing sentence, District Judge Ed McLean told a shackled Kaarma he acted like a “hunter” when he purposely left his garage door open that night, not a man defending his family.
Prosecutor Andrew Paul said the 30-year-old Kaarma showed no remorse and boasted about being a hero for shooting 17-year-old Diren Dede when he trespassed into his garage last April.
"Judge this is a heinous crime," Paul emphasized. "He waited until Diren came inside that garage before he left the security of that locked front door, and rounded that corner and made that terrible decision."
Defense attorney Brian Smith argued that previous burglaries in Kaarma’s garage began a tragic chain of events that led to Dede’s death, and Kaarma’s vilification in his community and in the media.
“This case has perhaps been one the most publicized in the community," Smith said. "This court will be remember for what the sentence is today. We’re asking the court to give a fair sentence. Not a sentence the mob wants."
The judge agreed with Kaarma’s defense that previous burglaries in the same garage started the chain of events that led to Dede’s death. But he also told Kaarma it was “inexplicable” to take the life of a child because of a theft.
Defense attorneys argued biased media coverage made it impossible for Kaarma to get a fair trial in Missoula County.
Before the sentencing, the court heard testimony from the German student’s host parents in Missoula and Kaarma's mother, Chong Oak Kaarma tried to apologize to Celal Dede, but Celal replied, "It's too late."
Kaarma’s girlfriend and mother to his son, Janelle Pflager, also took the stand and pleaded with the judge saying that Kaarma never wanted to kill anyone but just wanted to protect his family.
But county attorney Karla Painter asked Pflager if she and Kaarma were truly remorseful after the prosecution heard a phone call between the two just a few days earlier, “...and you said we aren’t paying for them to send their own dirty rat son back."
Pflager replied "I don't know what I said."
Diren’s father, Celal Dede, said he was glad that justice was done, and the Turkish emmigrant to Germany was eager to go home to his wife and daughters.
"Life in the future is broken. Very broken. Life is not good," Dede said.
Kaarma won’t be eligible for parole for at least 20 years. His lawyers have said they plan to appeal the conviction to the Montana Supreme Court.
