Charmane Goins will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of Lauren Taylor, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Taylor's corpse was found burned in a Gwinnett County park in 2014. Goins was convicted of Taylor's murder on Sept. 5 and faced sentencing Sept. 28.
Judge Debra Turner sentenced Goins to life in prison without parole. Since the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office did not seek the death penalty, there were only two options for Goins: life without parole and life with the possibility of parole.
The sentencing, which sometimes happens immediately following a verdict, was delayed nearly a month in hopes of bringing in character witnesses for Goins. Only Taylor’s mother and sister spoke at the sentencing hearing Thursday, Channel 2 reported; no witnesses for Goins were in the courtroom.
“To think you really tried to get away with the murder of my sister is crazy. You are not man enough to admit you did it,” said Lindsay Taylor, Lauren Taylor’s sister. “I hope you die hating yourself for what you did for her.”
Goins was having an extramarital affair with Lauren Taylor at the time of her death. Lauren Taylor threatened to tell Goins’ then-wife about their relationship in the days before her death.
Goins maintained his innocence at the hearing and voiced his intention to ask for a new trial, Channel 2 reported.
