US Navy veteran Adam Purinton, 52, who had shot down Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla in a Kansas City bar last year in what was seen as a race crime, has been sentenced to life in prison, according to reports.

Purinton, who had screamed at Kuchibhotla (32) to “get out of my country” and had fired from a gun that he brought back later, killed the Indian techie. An American youngster, Ian Grillot, who had tried to pacify Purinton, had been severely injured. In March this year Purinton had pleaded guilty to the charges of murdering Kuchibhotla.

The charges against Purinton were first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla, 32, and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of his friend, Alok Madasani, and a bystander.

Adam Purinton, who had fled after the shooting at Austin’s Bar and Grill in Olathe city on February 22, was later caught.

—India Legal Bureau