Timothy Adarna was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for killing his stepfather, Robert Ramos, two years ago in 'Ewa Beach.

Relatives of Ramos waited in court for Adarna to apologize for his actions or explain them, but he said nothing.

Adarna, 23, remained silent as Circuit Judge Michael Town imposed a life sentence with the possibility of parole for the murder and 20 years for a related arson charge.

The two prison sentences will be served simultaneously.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, the prosecution and defense agreed that Adarna will not seek parole until he has served at least 20 years behind bars.

Robin Turner, niece of the victim, spoke for Ramos' family after the hearing.

She said the family was "dumfounded that something like this, in such a gruesome manner, could happen."

She described Ramos as "a great person."

"We don't have any ill wishes toward anyone, toward Timmy," Turner said. "It's just a loss for everyone."

But she said the Ramos family had hoped for an apology and an explanation from Adarna.

"When you accept responsibility but you can't say you're sorry or apologize, that makes it much more difficult," she said.

Adarna was convicted in a jury trial last year of first-degree arson for setting fire to the house in which Ramos' burned body was found. But the jury couldn't reach a verdict on the murder charge. Adarna pleaded guilty to that charge in January.

An autopsy determined that Ramos, 55, bled to death after being stabbed in the neck and hit on the head and chest with a blunt object.

Adarna, a Campbell High School graduate and military veteran, has said previously that he didn't remember the circumstances of the crime.

After Adarna pleaded guilty in January to second-degree murder, defense lawyer David Hayakawa called the case a "mystifying" one that will apparently never be fully explained.