DENVER (AP) — A man convicted of killing a business colleague whose body was found in the Utah desert has been sentenced in Denver to 49 years and six months in prison.

Denver prosecutors say Joong Rhee received the maximum possible prison sentence Thursday for his convictions on charges of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and first-degree assault on an at-risk adult.

His 64-year-old business partner Hae C. Park was reported missing from Adams County outside Denver in 2010, and his body was found in 2011.

Rhee’s lawyer had argued Rhee killed Park in self-defense.

Rhee’s first trial on charges including first-degree murder ended in a hung jury. After prosecutors pursued a retrial, he was convicted of charges including second-degree murder in January.

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