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Man Convicted of Murdering Wife on Christmas Gets 47 Years

ELLSWORTH, Maine - A Maine man found guilty of murdering his wife on Christmas Day of 2013 has been sentenced to 47 years in prison.

Justice Ann Murray imposed Christopher Saenz's sentence in a Bangor courtroom on Friday. A judge found Saenz guilty of murdering Hilary Saenz in July.

WLBZ-TV reports that before the judge reached her decision, the prosecution said Saenz was "unwilling to accept that he was the cause of Hilary Sanez's death.''

Prosecutors said Saenz beat his wife to death because he believed she was having an affair.

Saenz maintained his innocence. He told investigators his wife died after suffering a seizure. In her ruling, the judge said Hilary Saenz didn't have a seizure disorder.

Saenz apologized in court, describing his wife as a superhero and his best friend.