A TEENAGER in the US state of Iowa who beat his teacher to death with a baseball bat over a bad grade has been sentenced to life in prison.
Willard Miller, 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in April for his role in the 2 November 2021 killing of Nohema Graber, a Spanish teacher.
Miller and co-defendant Jeremy Goodale, now 18, attacked Ms Graber, 66, after she marked down Miller’s work.
Aged 16 at the time of the murder, both were charged as adults.
Goodale’s sentencing is scheduled for August.
On Thursday, Miller was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole only after at least 35 years.
He was also ordered to pay at least $150,000 (£117,000) in restitution to the victim’s family.
Before delivering his sentence, Judge Shawn Showers rejected defence arguments that Miller was too young at the time to understand the gravity of his actions.
“Evil does not have a birthday,” he said.
Family members of Ms Graber told the court they did not believe Miller was remorseful.
Several relatives mentioned that the murder led to the early death last month of Ms Graber’s husband, Paul. He was buried a day before Thursday’s sentencing.
Miller apologised to the community and turned to address Ms Graber’s relatives seated behind him.
“I am sincerely sorry for the distress I have caused you and the devastation I have caused your family,” he said.
