ST. PAUL, Minn. – A man who jumped bail and lived on the lam in Oregon for four years was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison for killing his wife.

Gordon Weaver, 48, of White Bear Lake, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Jean Weaver, 40, who was found dead in the couple’s burning home Oct. 16, 1999. The sentence handed down by Ramsey County District Judge Joanne Smith was double the punishment called for in state sentencing guidelines.

Jean Weaver’s relatives, appearing at the sentencing, spoke about the crime’s lingering pain. ”It goes to bed with me at night and it’s waiting for me in the morning,” said Jeanette Kilduff, Jean Weaver’s mother.

Gordon Weaver’s attorneys argued that Jean Weaver died from an unintended fall and that Gordon Weaver was guilty only of manslaughter. During his trial in November, Weaver told the jury he didn’t intend to hurt his wife, arguing that he started the house on fire in a panic after he pushed his wife during an argument and she hit her head on a washbasin.

From wire reports