I don't think a life sentence was appropriate, but I don't think you're concern here is really what happened. judges have some discretion when it comes to whic

I don't think a life sentence was appropriate, but I don't think you're concern here is really what happened. judges have some discretion when it comes to which end of the minimum/maximum end of the scale to sentence someone convicted of a particular crime, and using facts entered into evidence and never contested when exercising that is pretty standard.