Albuquerque man sentenced for killing man outside of bar

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque man who shot and killed a man after an argument over a pool table at a local bar has been sentenced to over 20 years behind bars.
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It was an emotional day in court Friday, as family members of James Silver asked the judge to give his killer, Jeremy Saiz, the maximum penalty, after he shot and killed the 38-year-old outside of Dragon Horn Tavern.
'Jeremy Saiz, you took my son's father,' said Silver's son's mother.
'No words can express how much I miss my little brother every day,' said Silver's older sister.
It was last November at the bar, near Candelaria Rd. and Juan Tabo Blvd., that a confrontation broke out between Silver and the bar employee, Saiz, who was not on shift that day. After the confrontation, Saiz followed Silver outside the bar and shot him.
Friends and family of the defendant also made their plea to the judge, asking for mercy. 'But I ask that you see him in his entirety, not only for his worst moment but for the man he always tried to be,' said Saiz's sister.
Saiz addressed the court, saying, 'I pray that one day you will find it in your hearts to forgive me. You will forever be in my prayers.'
Saiz took a plea deal prior to sentencing for second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement. The judge sentenced him to the maximum under his plea deal of 24.5 years in prison. Before this incident, online court records show Saiz did not have a significant criminal history in New Mexico.
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