Stephen Gruber-Miller

sgrubermil@dmreg.com

Alexander Kozak will spend the rest of his life behind bars, a judge said Monday.

The sentence, life in prison without parole, is the mandatory punishment for first-degree murder and has been expected since April, when a jury in Story County found Kozak, 23, guilty of shooting 20-year-old Andrea Farrington in the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville nearly a year ago.

Kozak spoke at the sentencing, saying he regrets what he did.

"I took her life," he said of Farrington. "That's a truth I must live with."

"I'd give anything to fix this, but I can't change the past. What I can do is offer my apology. My words won't bring her back, and I would be a fool to believe that anyone could find any solace in them," Kozak said.

In addition to the life sentence, Kozak will have to pay $150,000 in restitution to Farrington's estate, as well as other costs incurred during the trial.

At his trial, Kozak's lawyers admitted that he shot and killed Farrington, but they entered a not guilty plea and relied on a diminished-responsibility defense, arguing that a mental defect prevented Kozak from premeditating the shooting and that it should be treated like a crime of passion. A jury disagreed.

Alexander Kozak guilty of first-degree murder in mall shooting

Defense attorney Alfredo Parrish argued Monday that Kozak should receive a sentence less than life in prison, citing a recent Iowa Supreme Court case that found that a life sentence without the possibility of parole for a juvenile killer constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said the sentence was not only mandatory but, in Kozak's case, it was the right sentence. Judge Christopher Bruns agreed, noting that Kozak was 22 at the time of the murder.

Kozak does have the right to appeal, and Parrish will likely bring up the issue of Kozak's age again, since it is relevant to his argument about Kozak's volatile mental state.

This Sunday will mark one year since the June 12, 2015, shooting that resulted in Farrington's death.

At the sentencing Monday, her mother, Cheryl Farrington, had one request for Kozak before she read a statement.

"Alex, can you please look at us?" she said.

He did.

"Our world was turned upside down when you selfishly took our firstborn. There are many experiences we will not get to enjoy with Andrea," Cheryl Farrington said.

She said her daughter will never get married or have children, and her family will miss her infectious smile and daily interactions like Snapchat and video messages and jokes.

"Your decision to take the life of Andrea with no regard to the effects that it may have on others is unimaginable," Cheryl Farrington said.

She also read a statement written by Andrea's younger sister, Cassie Farrington.

"Alex, you said you loved Andrea, yet you so cowardly went behind her back and killed her. My sister is the most understanding person I know. As the days go by, I hope you find it in your heart to forgive yourself for taking such a young, selfless, bubbly woman from yourself and so many others. I believe if Andrea was here today, she would feel sorry for you. She would reach out to you, talk with you and be there for you," Cassie Farrington wrote.

Beyond the effect Farrington's shooting has had on her family, Cheryl Farrington also spoke of the devastating effect it had on the hundreds of people in Coral Ridge Mall that day, who, in some cases, no longer feel safe in public.

"You have made it difficult to go into crowds or large venues, knowing that our safety, security and sense of well-being may be compromised," she told Kozak.

Lyness echoed that sentiment, noting the effect that the shooting had on the community. The sentencing, especially coming before the one-year anniversary of Farrington's death, can help the community put the incident behind it, she said.

"I think is very important for the community to feel like there’s been justice done in this case, that we are doing what we can to try to make sure that the community is safe," Lyness said.

Alexander Kozak's lawyer asks for new trial, citing prosecutorial misconduct

Bruns on Monday also denied a motion from Parrish requesting a new trial.

Parrish filed the motion in May, arguing that what he called "prosecutorial misconduct" had violated his client's right to a fair trial. He argued that mistakes by the prosecution during the trial caused the jury to be prejudiced against Kozak.

In a motion filed May 18 in resistance to the request for a new trial, Lyness argued that any errors by the prosecution did not cause prejudice and the evidence against Kozak — including witness statements, video evidence and an admission from Kozak that he killed Farrington — was overwhelming.

Bruns agreed with Lyness on Monday in refusing a new trial, saying Kozak received a fair trial and that he had found no prosecutorial misconduct.

"Mr. Kozak, I would wish you luck, but I don't think that's appropriate," Bruns said after the sentencing. "I don't wish you ill. I hope that you find a better place."

Reach Stephen Gruber-Miller at 319-887-5407 or sgrubermil@press-citizen.com. Follow him at @sgrubermiller.