Man gets 36 years to life in prison in 'blink' murder case

CINCINNATI -- A man paralyzed and hooked up to a ventilator after he was shot in the face and neck could only communicate by blinking his eyes, but those blinks helped lead to what could end up as life in prison for the man convicted of murdering him.

Ricardo Woods, 35, was sentenced Thursday to 36 years to life in prison for the murder of David Chandler and for felonious assaults and weapons charges. The murder trial drew national attention when the judge allowed jurors to see a police interview of Chandler two weeks before his death during which he blinked in response to questions about who shot him.

Woods was convicted last month of murder and felonious assault charges after jurors watched the interview, which prosecutors say shows Chandler blinked his eyes three times for "yes" to identify a photo of Woods as the man who shot him. Chandler was shot while sitting in a car on Oct, 28, 2010, and left paralyzed from the neck down.

Woods, who insists he is innocent, stood stoically before a Hamilton County judge Thursday and showed no visible emotion as she sentenced him. Judge Beth Myers said the sentence she gave him was "necessary to protect the public and punish Mr. Woods." Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 37 years to life, the maximum, while the defense had asked the judge for the minimum, 18 years to life.

Defense attorney Kory Jackson says he expects the video interview to play a role in Woods' appeal.