Man Sentenced to Life for Killing Wife Onboard Cruise Ship

A California man was sentenced to life in prison today by a San Diego federal judge, for murdering his wife on a Carnival cruise ship in 2009.

Robert McGill apologized before his sentencing but never explained why he took the life of his wife, Shirley.

In June McGill plead guilty to second degree murder, admitting that he had killed his wife in their cruise ship cabin onboard the Carnival Elation. McGill revealed that he had taken Shirley’s life in the cabin’s bathroom with his bare hands. Medical examiners concluded that she had died of strangulation and blunt force injury to the head a torso.

Defense attorneys for McGill claim he was drunk that July 14th night in 2009 when the assault took place; but prosecutors say he was aware of what he was doing, so much so that he managed to clean himself up and head to the upper deck for a cigar after the beating.

Shirley McGill, who was 55 at the time of her murder, was found dead in a pool of her own blood several hours after the beating.

Following the discovery of Shirley’s body the FBI, and Coast Guard were notified and more than 20 FBI agents met the ship at sea to interview the husband and nearly 40 potential witnesses. McGill reportedly confessed to the murder to FBI agents onboard the ship.