Arizona Man Sentenced for Murder Over SB1070 Immigration Law

An Arizona judge sentenced Gary Kelley to over 27 years in prison for the murder of his Latino neighbor, Juan Varela, who prosecutors say was shot during an argument that started over the state's controversial SB1070 immigration law.

Kelley defended himself in court contesting that it wasn't a hate crime.

"I don't hate these people. I didn't hate him. But for some reason they want to make this a hate crime, and its not," he said.

Antonio Varela watched his brother get killed and says Kelley yelled racial slurs like, "Hurry up and go back to Mexico."

For more stories from KSAZ in Phoenix go to myfoxphoenix.com.