A 51-year-old Colorado man who strangled his wife to death, then took a break to smoke a cigarette and drink a soda while paramedics tried to save her life, will spend more than two decades behind bars.

Brian Mervin last week formally pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in the 2024 slaying of Cheri Kommer.

Mervin had initially been charged with first-degree murder in his wife's death before pleading guilty to the lesser charge. A state judge subsequently ordered him to serve 25 years in a state correctional facility, Denver NBC affiliate KUSA reported .

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As Law&Crime previously reported , the incident occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 20

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