US man who killed Indian immigrant sentenced to life

Chicago:  A man in the US state of Kansas who shot dead an Indian immigrant while shouting "get out of my country" was sentenced Friday to life in prison.

Adam Purinton had previously pleaded guilty to the racial slur-filled, drunken attack in February last year at a suburban bar and restaurant in the Midwestern state.

Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed in the assault in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe.

 His friend Alok Madasani, also Indian, was injured along with a bystander, Ian Grillot, who tried to intervene.

The 52-year-old Purinton received the maximum punishment for the murder, and two sentences of 165 months each for the attempted murders, the prosecutor´s office said.

While Purinton would be eligible for parole in 50 years, he was likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.

He is also facing federal hate crime and firearms charges, which could result in the death penalty. Purinton has pleaded not guilty in the federal case.

Kuchibhotla´s widow Sunayana Dumala released a video statement following the sentencing, describing her husband as an immigrant with "dreams for a better future."

"Today´s sentencing in the murder of my husband will not bring back my Srinu, but it sends a strong message that hate is never acceptable," Dumala said.

"I have shared Srinu´s story to highlight the goodness in him with the hope that others will emulate his life and not that of the man who killed him."