A judge has sentenced a physician found guilty of manslaughter in the killing of his wife to 20 years in prison.

That’s the maximum that Malachy Dehenre could have received Thursday from Jones County Circuit Court Judge Billy Joe Landrum. Dehenre also must pay $10,000 in court costs.

A jury deliberated 45 minutes on Jan. 30 before finding Dehenre guilty of manslaughter in the death of his wife, Nyasha Dehenre. She was killed in January 1997.

Dehenre’s first trial in 1998 ended when a jury could not reach a verdict. The jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of acquittal.

Dehenre testified during trial that his wife shot herself and denied prosecutors’ allegations that he killed her.