HONOLULU -- A local attorney who died protecting a friend and client was mourned Wednesday as his killer was sentenced.

The woman at the center of the tragedy also spoke publicly for the first time.

Rusty Anoba was hiding at attorney Craig Kimsel's house the night her boyfriend, Daniel Kahanaoi, came looking for her with a gun. At trial, Anoba weakened the prosecution case by recanting statements she made to police. She denied Kahanaoi had threatened her and said Kimsel used crystal methamphetamine before the shooting.

But at the courthouse for Kahanaoi’s sentencing Wednesday she expressed her anguish over Kimsel’s death.

“I feel a lot of grief and sorrow for Craig’s family and for his death,” Anoba said. ”I miss him so much, so much.”

On April 29, 2009, Anoba was hiding in a locked upstairs bedroom of Kimsel’s house in Kailua when Kahanaoi came looking for her. Kahanoi shot Kimsel as Kimsel spoke to a 911 operator.

Friends told Judge Glenn Kim that Kimsel was often more than just a lawyer to his clients.

“His goodness was his downfall,” said litigation paralegal Jocelyne Hiltz, who shared an office with Kimsel. “He was wrenched from us in a cruel, bloody and horrible way and we will all be forever scarred by the ugliness of his death.”

Kahanaoi claimed self-defense at trial but the jury convicted him of second-degree murder. The charge brings an automatic life sentence with a chance for parole, but the prosecutor and Kimsel’s family wanted the judge to impose consecutive sentences to make the chance of parole more remote.

Family members said Kahanaoi refuses to accept guilt or apologize. “According to him it was Craig’s fault,” said Kimsel’s sister, Loretta Kimsel. “He's had no sense of guilt or taking responsibility at all at the death of my brother.”

Kahanaoi made no statement at the hearing. His attorney said given the paroling authorities recent sentencing decisions, it's unlikely the 47-year-old will never leave prison.

The judge also noted Kahanaoi’s lack of remorse as he accepted the prosecutor’s recommendation. He sentenced Kahanaoi to consecutive terms for murder and firearms possession -- essentially giving him life plus 20 years with no parole for at least 30 years.

“You basically executed an unarmed man in his own home,” Kim said. “That is atrocious behavior this community which is a civilized community will simply not tolerate it.”

During the hearing, Anoba sat in the gallery with Kahanaoi’s family, but sobbed as Kimsel was praised by friends and family, especially when Kimsel’s two sons were mentioned. Outside court, KITV4 asked her whether, in her own opinion, she felt that Kahanaoi was guilty of murder.

“I know it was murder,” Anoba said. “And, I believe he probably would have killed me, too.”

Asked if she ever wished she had been killed, she answered, “Absolutely.”

Barbara Ankersmit, Kimsel’s mother, expressed sympathy for Anoba, along with surprise that she has apparently stopped defending Kahanaoi. “She has to live with herself and I feel very sorry for her in many ways.”

Ankersmit said the family was very happy with the sentence. “We really worry about the community and the thought of that man back on the street. So, of course, we are very gratified.”