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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The 35-year-old Jamestown man convicted of murder and criminal conspiracy charges in the April 2011 death of an 18-year-old Somali immigrant has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Leron Howard was found guilty back on Aug. 23 on both charges. The victim, Abdi Ali Ahmed, was found dead in a road ditch near Spiritwood, N.D., on April 30, 2011 with blunt force trauma to the head and stab wounds to the abdomen.

Defense attorney Steve Mottinger recommended to Judge Thomas Merrick that a 20-year sentence would be appropriate and sufficient. His initial reaction after the sentencing …

Prosecutor and Stutsman County State’s Attorney Fritz Fremgen says these cases are difficult on all parties involved, but is content to see that Howard will be off the streets for life.

Twenty-two-year-old Jamestown woman and co-defendant Janelle Cave was convicted in February of manslaughter and criminal conspiracy and is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence.