Teen convicted of killing classmate gets 40 years in prison

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A teenager accused of stabbing his fellow classmate to death back in 2009 was sentenced to 40 years behind bars.

Andy Rodriguez faced a judge in court Tuesday morning where he received his sentence of 40 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation for killing Juan Carlos Rivera in the courtyard at Coral Gables Senior High School.

According to reports, the fatal fight between Rodriguez and Rivera happened as a result of a girl.

Rivera's mother was in court for the sentencing, but she did not address the court, instead, she wrote a letter to the judge asking that Rodriguez get the maximum sentence, life in prison. Prosecutor Marie Mato also wanted Rodriguez to spend the rest of his life behind bars. "Mr. Andy Rodriguez made a decision to bring a knife to school, to pick a fight and to stab the victim Juan Carlos Rivera not once, but five times," said Mato.

Just before Rodriguez received his fate, he asked for forgiveness. "I'm not a murderer. I don't behave like a murderer. I consider myself a person with a good heart and good feelings," he said.

The defense filed a motion for a new trial but that was dismissed.

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