A Blaine husband convicted of murdering his wife in what officials said was a plot for insurance money was sentenced to life in prison today.
Blaine man convicted of first-degree murder
By Terry Collins, Star Tribune
August 4, 2008 at 8:36PM
Gary Tomassoni, 45, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being found guilty of first-degree murder on Friday. He shot his 45-year-old wife, Helen Tomassoni, in the head last year in the couple's bedroom.
Tomassoni made no statement as Judge Ellen Maas read his sentence, an Anoka County Attorney's Office official said.
Anoka County prosecutors argued that Tomassoni planned to shoot his wife because he had crippling gambling debts of about $850,000 and he was the beneficiary of her $500,000 life insurance policy.
Tomassoni's defense attorney, Jennifer Pradt, argued that the July 21, 2007, killing wasn't premeditated.
TERRY COLLINS
about the writer
Terry Collins, Star Tribune
The pilot was the only person inside the plane, and was not injured in the emergency landing, according to the State Patrol.
