US 'Facebook killer' sentenced to life for wife's murder

Derek Medina during his trial in a Miami court on Nov 10, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

MIAMI (AFP) - A Miami court on Friday (Feb 5) imprisoned for life a United States man who killed his wife and then splashed a photo of her bloodied body on Facebook, where he confessed to the fatal shooting.

Derek Medina, 33, was found guilty last year of second-degree murder after he fired eight shots at Jennifer Alfonso in August 2013 in their home kitchen.

Medina said he acted in self-defence after she threatened him with a knife and following years of abuse. But after six hours' deliberation, jurors last November rejected that claim.

The case attracted widespread attention because Medina photographed his 27-year-old wife's body, posted the picture on Facebook, and admitted on the social network that he had killed before surrendering to the police.

"I'm going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife, love you guys, miss you guys, take care Facebook people," he posted.

"You will see me in the news my wife was punching me and I am not going to stand anymore with the abuse so I did what I did I hope u understand me."

Sentencing him to life, Judge Yvonne Colodny told Medina that "you foretold your future".

"You wrote on Facebook that 'I am going to prison,' and that is where you will be going."

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.