Calvin Crew, the man convicted of killing Christina Spicuzza, a Pittsburgh-area Uber driver in 2022, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Crew was not in the courtroom at his own request. The defense attorney spoke on his behalf, but the judge indicated in a private message that he maintains his innocence and plans to appeal the sentence. 

Presiding Judge EJ Borkowski granted his wish, but it didn't change the outcome.  

Spicuzza's mother, as well as other family members, gave victim impact statements at the sentencing. 

Crew's defense attorney addressed the court on his behalf, saying that the 25-year-old "lived a childhood surrounded by violence and neglect."

Crew's counsel also told Judge Borkowski that Crew fell through society's cracks and was intellectually and socially challenged with an IQ of 84.

Speaking on behalf of her daughter, Cindy Spicuzza reminded the absent Crew that he would be on death row if not for the family asking for life in prison without parole based on Christina's religious beliefs.

"You executed her. No mercy, no remorse. It was abhorrent. It was murder," an emotional Cindy Spicuzza said.

Spicuzza's sister also addressed the court, saying Spicuzza's children will never see their mother come home.

Brandon Marto, Christina Spicuzza's fiancé, wept, telling the court, "Christy was everything for my family. I was lost, out of control. She saw something in me."

Marto called Crew a coward, telling the judge to show "no mercy, I beg you," and that he hoped Crew would "rot and burn in prison."

Judge Bortkowski said that Crew has indicated that he will appeal his conviction and maintains his innocence. 

Earlier this year, a jury found Crew guilty of first-degree murder in Spicuzza's 2022 killing in Monroeville. He was also convicted of robbery, kidnapping, gun charges, and tampering with evidence.   

Spicuzza was a mother of four whose family said she was working to earn extra money when she was kidnapped and murdered.

Days before the trial began earlier this year, prosecutors said they would no longer be seeking the death penalty.