Northwest Arizona man gets 20 years in death of girlfriend
A 20-year prison sentence was imposed Friday for a northwest Arizona man who shot and killed his girlfriend in October, 2014.
It was the maximum punishment possible under terms of a plea agreement convicting James Collins, 51, Yucca, of second- degree murder in the death of Cynthia Horn, 54, Yucca.
Defense attorney Ira Shiflett said Collins admitted drinking at least 14 beers before he killed Horn during an argument near the community of Wikieup.
Shiflett said it was cowardly for Collins to drive to the southern Arizona community of Yuma where he buried Horn on family property before fleeing to Mexico.
Mohave County Superior Court Judge Billy Sipe scolded Collins for the “self-serving” 14-page letter he wrote to the court prior to sentencing. Sipe said it was “offensive” for Collins to claim he acted in self-defense when he pulled Horn to the ground by the hair and shot her twice in the back of the head.
Sipe said it was ridiculous to claim self-defense in what really was an execution.
Contact Raven Jackson at rjackson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @ravenmjackson on Twitter.
