Gangster gets life for killing Miller exec

MILWAUKEE, July 24 (UPI) -- A young Milwaukee gang member has been sentenced to life with no parole for his part in a robbery that ended with the killing of a Miller Brewing Co. executive.

Miguel Ayala apologized during his sentencing hearing Wednesday to the three women who were with Lodewikus "Vic" Milford when he was gunned down in a parking lot in January, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported.

Milford, a South African national, moved to Milwaukee to serve as Miller's director of compensation. He and three colleagues were returning to their cars after an evening of celebration when they encountered Ayala and his lookout, Carlos Gonzalez.

"His absence haunts me every day," Rachel Leatherbury said during the hearing.

Leatherbury and the other women testified that they have become much more nervous.

Ayala's lawyer tried to convince Judge Jeffrey Wagner to set a term when he could be paroled. Wagner refused and imposed an additional 50 years for robbery.

Gonzales, who testified against Ayala and was 16 at the time of the crime, was sentenced to 21 years in prison followed by nine years of supervised release. Irene Rodriguez, 17, the getaway driver, who also testified was sentenced as a juvenile.