A Nicaraguan judge has denied a former Binghamton University student's appeal for a shorter sentence for the murder of a fellow student.

Orlando Tercero received a term of 30 years in prison, the top penalty for the crime of femicide, which is a sex-based crime that's defined as the intentional killing of a woman because she's a woman. Attorneys believe that sentence was appropiate.

Tercero killed his former romantic partner, Haley Anderson, in his Oak Street apartment back in 2018. After the killing, Tercero fled to Nicaragua. 

Police say Tercero strangled Anderson, who was just two months away from graduating at the time of the killing.

Haley Anderson's parents thought they were done visiting the community their daughter was murdered in.

"Last time I left I thought I was putting Binghamton in my rear view mirror and I was very shocked when I got the 607 call," said Karen Anderson, Haley's mother.

District Attorney Michael Korchak is confident the sentence will stand, believing justice has prevailed.

"Obviously we would have preferred he be brought to the United States and faced trial here. But we do believe justice was done for the victim and for the family. Just based on the facts and circumstances of the case I can't compliment the authorities and prosecutors down in Nicaragua enough," said Korchak.

Tercero has 10 days to file another appeal.