SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Curtis Allgier, the man convicted of the murder of corrections officer, Stephen Anderson will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Allgier pleaded guilty to killing Anderson as he escaped from a hospital.
The plea spared Allgier from facing a trial and facing the death penalty had he been convicted.
During Wednesday's sentencing Allgier attempted to be remorseful while offering his version of what happened.
Allgier told the judge, he shot Anderson but during their struggle, the gun went off accidently.
He recalls telling Anderson: "Stop, stop trying to stop me. Say what you got to say but go home to your family. He never said a word to me the whole time. And then we started struggling and I heard it go off once."
Allgire escaped from the hospital and was later recaptured at a Salt Lake City fast food place.
Back in the courtroom, Allgier turned and faced the Anderson family directly. He sobbed as he offered an apology.
"I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I didn't want to hurt anybody. I feel like s****. I took that all away from you."
“I thought he was trying to be sincere,” said Anderson’s son Shawn. “I think he is sorry for what he’s done and that’s where we’re at.”
The Anderson's refused to condemn Allgier.
“I don’t want to spend my life thinking about that,” says Anderson’s daughter Sherri Hardy. “It would ruin everything for the good memories I have. I choose not to.
Instead they focused on the memories of their father.
“He was a great guy, the best father you could ever have,” said his son. “(He’s) just someone you want to be around and try to be more like.”
