GALVESTON, Texas Clutched arm-in-arm with one of her defense attorneys, Cheretta Michelle Smith looked down and shook her head from side to side after learning her punishment for killing her legally blind grandmother.
A jury sentenced Smith to 84 years in prison Friday, just short of the life sentence sought by prosecutors, but far more than the 25 years sought by her lawyers.
Smith pleaded guilty last week to the Feb. 12, 2010, slaying of Theretta Gayden Miller, who was hit in the head three times with a candleholder and stabbed in the stomach four times. Police found her the following day the Texas City apartment she shared with Smith.
Prosecutors claimed Smith killed her grandmother to sell her flat-screen television and laptop computer for $250. Smith denied planning the killing.
Smith requested a jury decide her punishment after being unable to reach an agreement with prosecutors, lead defense attorney Jeremy B. DuCote said.
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