DETROIT (AP) - A judge again sentenced a convicted arsonist to at least 41 years in prison for a fire that killed a Detroit firefighter in 2008.
The case was sent back to a Wayne County judge by the Michigan appeals court, which said he didn’t fully explain why Mario Willis should get a sentence that exceeded the guidelines.
Judge Michael Callahan says the death of Walt Harris was foreseeable because the house had been severely damaged by a prior fire. The roof collapsed on Harris.
Willis was accused of paying a handyman $20 to burn down the abandoned two-story house, which belonged to his girlfriend. In 2010, Willis was convicted of arson and second-degree murder.
Harris’ widow, Syri Harris, said having to return to court Friday was a “slap in the face.”
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