Ex-officer sentenced to life for killing woman, burning body

ATLANTA (AP) — A former Atlanta police officer has been sentenced to life without parole, plus 16 years, for killing a woman he met online and then setting her body on fire.

News outlets report that 25-year-old Tahreem Rana was sentenced Monday. He had been found guilty Oct. 12 of multiple charges, including felony murder, in the August 2014 slaying of 26-year-old Vernicia Woodard.

Rana testified he met Woodard for sex, but she tried to rob and carjack him with his gun. He said he killed Woodard during the struggle, panicked, and set her body on fire.

Experts testified Woodard had wounds indicating she was in a defensive position when she was shot.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Rana while he was trying to catch a flight to Mexico.