A man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison after fatally beating his girlfriend at her home in south Jersey while she was asleep, according to the NJ Herald.
Lashaun Smith pleaded guilty last month to the murder of his 28-year-old girlfriend, Sarah Phillips, back in November of 2017. He was given his prison sentence today (Feb. 22).
Phillips' body was found by the Egg Harbor Township police after responding to a call regarding an injured woman in a home.
Smith repeatedly struck Phillips with a hammer while she was sleeping and died from "multiple blunt and sharp force injuries," authorities say.
As stated in court documents, Smith was angry with Phillips for seeing another man.
Phillips and Smith have four young children who also lived in their home, but authorities have not mentioned if the children witnessed the attack or not.