A New York barman has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison for the murder of a partygoer at rapper Lil Kim’s 2008 birthday bash.
In February, Syed Rahman pleaded guilty to fatally beating Ingrid Rivera with a steel pole on the roof of the Spotlight Live karaoke lounge in August, 2008. The victim's throat had also been slit.
The incident is alleged to have occurred when Rahman helped Rivera sneak back into the club after she was kicked out, but their exchange turned violent when she taunted him.
Rahman confessed to hitting Rivera, 24, but insisted he was too drunk to remember killing her. He appeared in Manhattan's State Supreme Court for sentencing last week and used the opportunity to express his sorrow at his actions.
Rahman, 26, said, "I want to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Ingrid Rivera. I know that I have caused them a tremendous amount of pain and suffering. I want them to know how much I regret what I did."
But Rivera's friends and family refuse to believe Rahman's apology is sincere and have vowed to appeal his release when he is due for parole, reports the New York Times.
Rivera's close friend, Robenson Aupont, says, "Twenty years from now, we’ll be back."
Tagged in Lil' Kim