Johnson gets life in prison

Kimberly Smith's family, friends and the attorneys representing her in the case against her murderer, pleaded that Jack Johnson get life in prison without parole for his part in her murder two years ago.

Judge James Kieffer agreed with them as he sentenced Johnson, 67, to life in prison last Friday afternoon in a Waukesha County courtroom.

Smith was stabbed to death in her Oconomowoc home on Oct. 1, 2009 by Justin Welch, who was hired by Darren Wold - Smith's former boyfriend whom they share a child with - and Johnson, Smith's former friend, to kill the 39-year-old woman.

While Welch has confessed to stabbing Smith, Susan Wolff, a close friend of Smith, said Johnson - formerly of Waukesha before moving to Mexico - is just as guilty.

"Every time you plotted with Darren to have Kim killed you were stabbing Kim yourself," Wolff said. "Every time you went on the computer with Justin by your side was just another stab wound, every phone call from one person to another, stab." ."

At the sentencing on Friday, Johnson's attorney, Mark Rosen maintained his client's innocence and said he will appeal Kieffer's ruling. But Kieffer said his sentence was based on one thing: That Johnson has no concern for human life.

"How do you value human life?" Kieffer said to Johnson. "Clearly you place it at zero."

"The public needs to be protected from people like you," Kieffer said. "(It's) such a senseless act to take another individual's life. You don't have that right. But for whatever reason you, Mr. Welch and Mr. Wold thought you did. You do not. "

Johnson responded in a raspy voice, "Things seem the way they are, but aren't necessarily the way they were. That's all I can say."

After that statement, Kieffer elaborated why he gave his sentence.

"Your guilt is inescapable. I still pick up from your statement today that you're not accepting any responsibility, clearly showing no remorse for your actions," said Kieffer.

Rosen said his client should not receive a life sentence because of his health problems. He added that Johnson didn't have a previous record and received a Purple Heart for serving with the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. "This isn't a young street punk," Rosen said.