Jeffrey Basil is headed to prison for killing Air National Guardsman William Sager Jr. A State Supreme Court Judge sentenced Basil to serve 18 years for launching Sager down a flight of stairs at Molly's Pub back in 2014. Time Warner Cable News Reporter Kaitlyn Lionti was in court Wednesday Basil apologized for his actions, and Sager's fiancee described the impact of his death.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Almost one year after Air National Guardsman William Sager Jr., 28, died from the injuries he suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Basil, his fiancee described the courageous and generous man she never had the chance to marry and the agony of watching him die.
"I became a widow at 27 years old because of the actions of another," said Erika Webster, "I was with him when he took his last breath, lying next to him telling him how much I loved him. Bill would have been an incredible father, and the best husband, but we never got the opportunity to experience any of those things together."
Webster said Basil's demeanor in court incidated he felt no remorse for taking away Sager's future. She said her fiance had two career opportunities in front of him, as a state trooper or a sensor operator at the Air Force base.
"None of us will ever know which decision Bill would have ended up making because his life was cut unfairly short by somebody who was given more choices than he ever deserved," said Webster.
Though Basil was convicted of second degree murder in January, the verdict was set aside after the court learned a juror had failed to disclose information about her background. Basil pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter in June as part of a deal with the District Attorney's Office, and admitted to intending to seriously injure Sager at Molly's Pub in May of 2014.
"I want to apologize to the Sager family, and tell them I'm sorry for what happened. I'm not making any excuses, I'm not here to blame anyone else, but I want the court to know how really sorry I am," said Basil.
As part of the deal, Basil faced between 15 and 21 years in prison. His attorney, Joel Daniels, believes 18 years was a fair sentence.
"He has always been remorseful about what happened. William Sager died here, and Jeffrey recognized that," said Daniels, "It's something he's going to have to live with for the rest of his life."
However, Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita is not satisfied with the outcome of the case, as he agreed with the jury's decision to convict Basil of murder.
"He is going to be punished, he is going to be removed from the community for a substantial period of time, and the family does not have to go through the ordeal of a second trial. I am satisfied about those things," said Sedita.
Webster said Wednesday's sentencing doesn't change anything for Sager's loved ones.
"The best man I have ever known is no longer with us and nothing will ever fix that or mend our broken hearts," said Webster.