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South Boston Man Sentenced In Murder Of 65-Year-Old Neighbor

BOSTON (CBS) -- A South Boston man will be spending the rest of his life behind bars for the 2011 murder of a grandmother in her Andrew Square apartment.

Adam Cassino was convicted earlier this summer of breaking into Barbara Tagen's apartment and beating his 65-year-old neighbor to death.

Several loved ones delivered victim impact statements during Cassino's sentencing hearing Monday.

Frances Nelson looked his friend's killer in the eye when he spoke in court.

"When those doors clank tonight and your sitting by yourself," he said to Cassino, "I hope you see Barbara's face for the rest of your life."

On Aug. 22, 2011, Cassino was accused of stealing prescription pills from another resident at Tagen's apartment building, according to prosecutors. The alleged theft sparked a series of confrontations that led Cassino to be thrown out of his home and stay at a friend's apartment for two nights. Cassino was unaccounted for at the time of Tagen's killing on Aug. 23, 2011.

Cassino killed Tagen just hours before he was checked into rehab for drug addiction. On Monday, he was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Thomas Tagen could barely contain his emotions as he faced his mother's killer.

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Barbara Tagen of South Boston was beaten to death in her apartment in August 2011. (Credit: WBZ-TV)

"My beautiful daughters will never have the opportunity to share the things that granddaughters reserve only for their grandmothers," Tagen said.

While the grieving son said he tries to focus on happy memories with his mother, Tagen told Cassino that he hopes the murder haunts him in prison.

"May you live the rest of your life in torture and pain," he said.

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