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US people-smuggler gets life term US people-smuggler gets life term
(10 minutes later)
A US lorry driver has been sentenced to life in prison over a failed attempt to smuggle dozens of people illegally into the US.A US lorry driver has been sentenced to life in prison over a failed attempt to smuggle dozens of people illegally into the US.
Nineteen of more than 70 immigrants crammed into the back of Tyrone Williams' lorry died during a journey towards Houston in May 2003.Nineteen of more than 70 immigrants crammed into the back of Tyrone Williams' lorry died during a journey towards Houston in May 2003.
Williams was convicted in December of conspiracy and illegal transportation.Williams was convicted in December of conspiracy and illegal transportation.
The jury deliberated for more than five days before reaching the sentence and decided not to impose a death penalty.The jury deliberated for more than five days before reaching the sentence and decided not to impose a death penalty.
AbandonedAbandoned
The life sentence handed down on 35-year-old Williams, himself an immigrant to the US from Jamaica, has no possibility for parole. The life sentence handed down to 36-year-old Williams, himself an immigrant to the US from Jamaica, has no possibility for parole.
More than 70 and possibly as many as 100 people were packed into the refrigerated trailer in the town of Harlingen, Texas. He had been found guilty on 38 counts in an earlier trial in 2005, but had his sentence overturned on appeal, leading to a retrial.
Williams, who was the only one of a group of 14 people charged facing the death penalty for his role in the deaths, gave no visible reaction to the verdict.
More than 70 and possibly as many as 100 people were packed into the refrigerated trailer in the town of Harlingen, Texas in 2003.
But there was no evidence that the trailer's refrigeration systems were ever used, and conditions inside quickly became unbearable.But there was no evidence that the trailer's refrigeration systems were ever used, and conditions inside quickly became unbearable.
Humidity in the trailer soared and people tried to rip away pieces of the vehicle in an attempt to get some air.Humidity in the trailer soared and people tried to rip away pieces of the vehicle in an attempt to get some air.
Seventeen of the Mexican and Central American illegal immigrants packed inside the lorry were found dead when Williams abandoned them in the town of Victoria, Texas, in May 2003. Seventeen of the Mexican and Central American illegal immigrants packed inside the lorry were found dead when Williams abandoned them in the town of Victoria, Texas.