Sarasota, FL -- There's been a major development of high-profile murder for hire case the dates back nearly two decades in Sarasota. The victim, Sheila Bellush, was the mother of quadruplets. Murdered, by a hit-man hired by her ex-husband.
Eighteen years after being convicted as the middleman in that scheme, Danny Rocha stood in a Sarasota courtroom Friday.
"I'm extremely sorry for what I did. I absolutely hate it," Rocha told the court.
The apology was not just to Bellush's family, but his own.
The victim was the mother of six including quadruplets – just two years old at the time, who were found crawling in their mother's blood.
Bellush's ex-husband, Allen Blackthorne, was convicted of ordering the hit. He died last year in federal prison.
"I wish I never got involved in the crime, but did, and I'm responsible for that," said Rocha, "and it's something that I have to live with for the rest of my life."
Rocha's attorney successfully argued that the judge in the original case had used the wrong sentencing guidelines in calculating Rocha's punishment on a second conviction for conspiracy.
Instead of 13 years above and beyond his life sentence for murder, the new guidelines reduced the sentence to just 13 months.
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With time already served, that all but wipes out any punishment for Rocha on count two, but his life sentence for murder - count one - remains unchanged.
"Mr. Rocha isn't going anywhere," said prosecutor Karen Fraivillig.
Despite the sentencing adjustment, Rocha's attorney left the courtroom with nothing to say. It was the same for his relatives.
Prosecutor say they'll share the court's decision with Bellush's husband who, while understanding the outcome of Friday's hearing, continues to grieve, they say.
"In the crime that was committed against him, and his little babies that were walking around over their dead mother's body, I mean I'm sure it affects, and will affect him for the rest of his life," said Fraivillig.
During the hearing Rocha's attorney had also asked the court for a re-trial, but that motion was denied.
If he chooses to do so, Rocha has 30 days to appeal.
