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dyer matta garcia ocallaghan lalli schieck bonaventure
By Peter O'Connell
Review-Journal
Jurors chose the most lenient punishment possible Wednesday for a thrill-killer who once described himself as a "Death Row achiever."
The District Court jury that on Friday found Tony Ray Amati guilty in the August 1996 slaying of Keith Dyer deliberated about five hours Wednesday before settling on a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty against the 23-year-old defendant, who will be eligible for parole in 40 years. Jurors also could have sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole.
The victim's father, Bruce Dyer, said he was satisfied with the jury's decision. He said he couldn't even imagine an existence as miserable as the one that awaits Amati.
"To me, it would be a living hell to be in jail for 40 years," he said.
Amati showed no emotion as the jury foreman announced the sentence. He and his father, Charles Amati, expressed their love for each other before the younger Amati was taken away in chains.
Addressing the jury earlier Wednesday, a teary-eyed Amati expressed his remorse for...