A Georgia man who choked his teenage girlfriend to death before dragging her dead body into the bathroom will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
A judge handed down 22-year-old Kathan Guzman's life sentence Thursday, according to WSB-TV.
Last month, a jury convicted Guzman of murder and aggravated assault in the 2022 death of 19-year-old Delila Grayson.
Guzman, a trained martial artist, admitted to choking Grayson after the pair argued for three hours. He then dumped her body in the bathroom, left their Clayton County, Georgia, apartment, and returned 10 hours later when he called 911, according to prosecutors.
Guzman told investigators Grayson charged at him with a knife and he acted in self-defense by placing her in a "sleeper hold" for a few seconds.
But medical examiner Dr. Rachel Geller testified that Grayson would have needed to be choked for four to six minutes after her initial loss of consciousness to die, according to the outlet.
"We hope this conviction brings some measure of closure for the loved ones of Ms. Grayson," Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley said in a statement. "Our office is committed to holding perpetrators of such violent acts accountable and ensuring the safety of Clayton County residents."
