TROY, N.Y. — Johnny Oquendo was sentenced Monday morning for the murder of his stepdaughter in Rensselaer County Court.

Oquendo was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison. Oquendo was convicted last fall of strangling Noel Alkaramla in his apartment in 2015, putting her body into a suitcase and throwing it into the Hudson River. 

Oquendo appeared in court last Friday and was granted a request to represent himself during Monday's sentencing. 

Alkaramla's mother, Debra Napoli, addressed Oquendo in court. 

"He’s left a catastrophic hole in my chest -- one that I can never fill," Napoli said.

District Attorney Joel Abelove says he's pleased with the sentence.

"I didn’t expect him to show any remorse. I expect him to go to prison for the rest of his life and die there," Abelove said.

Oquendo maintained his innocence, saying he did not murder Noel.

"Nothing has tied me to murder except for strong suspicion. But suspicion is not proof," said Oquendo.