Shirley Man Sentenced For Murdering His College Girlfriend

WOBURN (CBS) - A 21-year-old Shirley man was sentenced to life in prison plus two-and-a-half years for the murder of his college girlfriend.

Robert Gulla was given the sentence by Judge Thomas Billings in Middlesex County Superior Court Thursday morning. After an 11 day trial, he was found guilty of stabbing and beating Allison Myrick, 19, of Groton. Gulla is also said to have shot Myrick with a pellet gun before shooting himself and cutting his wrists on January 23, 2010.

"Let this be a reminder that if you are in an abusive relationship, you need to get out. He may say he's going to change, but he won't change," said prosecutor Lisa McGovern as she requested that Judge Billings impose the maximum penalty.

Myrick, a freshman at the time at Fitchburg State, had filed two restraining orders against Gulla before her death. Her family told investigators they did their best to keep the two apart, but Myrick was with Gulla at his home when she was murdered.

Myrick's family declined to make victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing but spoke briefly to reporters outside the courthouse.

"If there is a young girl you love, a daughter, cousin, or friend, sit down and have a talk with that kid," said Myrick's father Steve. "Some kid somewhere is going to recognize the trouble she's in before it's too late."

Myrick's family has spoken to area schools about the dangers of teen dating violence since her death. Her friends still occasionally post to a Facebook group in her honor.

Robert Gulla also had supporters in court during his sentencing hearing. Gulla did not make a statement before he was given life in prison.