COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A 29-year-old northern Idaho man has been sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for shooting his girlfriend to death on Christmas Day 2011. Joseph Herrera of St. Maries apologized Thursday before being sentenced by 1st District Judge Fred Gibler in Coeur d'Alene.

Herrera said he took full responsibility for the death of 18-year-old Stefanie Comack, who was shot in the head in an upstairs bedroom at Herrera's parents' house. Herrera was convicted of second-degree murder in June.

During the trial he testified he pointed what he believed was an unloaded gun at his head and said he would rather shoot himself than go to Comack's parents' house for Christmas. He said she grabbed the gun and it went off. Prosecutors argued Comack was planning to break up with Herrera.

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