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A Bellevue man convicted of murdering his stepdaughter will now spend the rest of his life behind bars.  Michael Williams, 36, was sentenced on first-degree murder charges Monday.

Her family says 21-year-old Michala Pomfret was a goofball, and loved to make people smile.  She was willing to help anyone, which ultimately was used against her by her estranged stepfather Michael Williams.

 

In April, Pomfret was willing to speak with Williams outside her Bellevue home, though he and Michala's mother were having problems.  For some reason, Williams shot Pomfret on her front porch.  She later died at the hospital.

 

"Especially because she came out and she wanted to talk to him and maybe try to help him and this is how he turns around and does her," said Michala’s brother Zach Pomfret.

 

"We're never going to be whole again but at least she can be at peace,” Michala’s brother, James Raymond explained.  "She would help out anyone even the guy that was estranged from my mother."

 

In court, Williams said he was remorseful and sorry for his actions, but had no recollection of the crime.  His attorney says Williams deals with some sort of mental illness, though the prosecution says court evaluations revealed no problems.

 

"There really isn't any good side to this at all.  The fact that he had some lovely lady killed and my client doesn't even understand why he did it or remember doing it," said James Martin Davis, Williams’ attorney.

 

Pomfret's family says Williams' foggy memory shows he isn't remorseful, and is trying to find a way out.  They do hope he remembers the beautiful girl who was taken too soon.

 

"When she's saying ‘please don't’, I hope everyday he's in that cell thinking about those words and her face," Zach concluded.

 

Williams will serve his life sentence with the Nebraska Department of Corrections.  His attorney says he could state his case with the Pardon Board of Paroles in about 30 years.