Man gets 25 years to life for slaying

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A three-judge panel on Friday sentenced a male stripper to 25 years to life in prison for killing a female impersonator with a samurai sword.

Michael Jennings, 34, could have received the death penalty for the 2002 slaying of Gary McMurtry. His lawyers had said they opted for the panel instead of a jury because they felt judges would better understand the defense that Jennings was insane at the time of the crime.

But the panel convicted Jennings, a male stripper who performed under the name Devon, of aggravated murder and aggravated burglary, and of felonious assault for an attack on McMurtry's roommate, Brian Bass.

Prosecutors say Jennings, dressed in a black ninja outfit with a hood, broke into McMurtry's home, stabbed McMurtry 13 times and slashed Bass with the sword when Bass confronted him.

Jennings testified Thursday that he killed McMurtry but lied about it to police and his family for two years.

"I did not want to admit to murder, because that's not what I thought I did," Jennings said.

His lawyers asked the panel not to convict him because he was diagnosed with psychosis and paranoia five years ago.

Jennings testified that he believed McMurtry, with whom he had worked for years, and another roommate, Scott Cole, were out to get him.

"I do feel what I did was a move of self-defense," Jennings said. "I was sad and surprised that I actually did it. I didn't plan it out very well, or I might have gotten away with it."

Court records show Jennings was ruled incompetent to stand trial in December 2002 and was committed to a Columbus mental health facility, where he was injected with anti-psychotic medications under court order until he was ruled competent in February.