New York attorney sentenced for girlfriend's murder at Hollywood Hills home

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By WIRE SERVICES

Story Published: Oct 9, 2009 at 2:31 PM PDT

Story Updated: Oct 9, 2009 at 2:40 PM PDT

A New York attorney convicted of murdering his girlfriend at his Hollywood Hills home was sentenced Friday to 40 years to life in prison after apologizing to the woman's family.

David Mahler, 45, fatally shot Kristin Baldwin, 38, on May 27, 2007. He was convicted Sept. 15 of second-degree murder, with jurors finding true an
allegation that he personally discharged a firearm.

"I want to say to the family that I'm sorry this happened,'' Mahler told Baldwin's relatives. "I am extraordinarily regretful ... It doesn't bring her back.''

"This is my sister, Kristin,'' the woman's older sister, Robin Henson, told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David S. Wesley, indicating an urn containing the victim's ashes.

"My family's life has been completely turned around to a point of pain and suffering because my sister is gone,'' Henson said. "A person that can do this needs to go to prison for a very long time ... I love my sister and I miss her and I want her back.''

Outside court, she said she thought Mahler's apology was "fake and phony.''

"He's not sincere and he has no remorse,'' Henson said.

During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Bobby Grace told jurors that Mahler was "in a rage'' when he shot Baldwin during an argument.

The two had argued several days earlier, the prosecutor said.

The woman's badly decomposed body was discovered on June 17, 2007, in the desert near Barstow by some people who had stopped to help a stranded motorist.

Jurors also convicted Mahler of assault with a firearm on a man who was his then-roommate, and the judge tacked on an additional three-year prison term on the assault charge.

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Anonymous said on Monday, Nov 23 at 2:31 PM

She was very dear to my heart...He once was as well though after everything, my heart became confused and cold..Thanks david...for putting me in a position that I never thought I'd find myself in...I'm releived to hear that he's paying and not being released so not to hurt anyone again...and to think, it could have very well been me....

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