Man gets life sentence for murder of Ohio cabbie

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A man convicted of murdering a northeast Ohio cab driver has been sentenced to up to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 33 years.

Court officials in Akron say 27-year-old Raul Benitez-Maranon was sentenced Wednesday for the August shooting death of 61-year-old Jerry Laury of Canton. Benitez-Maranon had pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and a gun specification.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports that prosecutors said Laury was shot at least eight times with a handgun when Benitez-Maranon apparently felt Laury insulted his girlfriend.

The prosecutor said Laury was waiting for his fare after dropping Benitez-Maranon at his girlfriend’s apartment in New Franklin, southeast of Akron.

Benitez-Maranon said he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs and did not set out to kill Laury.