A retired Tyler dentist convicted of first degree murder has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the shooting death of his wife.

A Smith County jury deliberated most of the day Thursday before returning the prison sentence for 76-year-old Bobby Ray Nichols. The same jury convicted Nichols Wednesday for killing his 71-year-old wife Rosalind in the couple’s home on June 29, 2012.

Prosecutors were seeking the death penalty, but the jury found Nichols acted out of “sudden passion” when he shot his wife.

Nichols will become eligible for parole after 10 years in prison.

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