The judge who sentenced the man who killed a 25-year-old woman and robbed her of $40 said he would do everything in his power to make sure the murderer is never released from prison.

Shawn Henderson, 27, of Landover shook as the sentencing hearing began for the April 2008 murder and robbery of Lindsay Marie Harvey.

"You must never be allowed to be in the midst of our community, when you would undoubtedly strike again," said Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence McGann, who sentenced Henderson, a previously convicted criminal, to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 20 years.

"If I could give you more time, I would," said McGann, who promised to do "everything in my power" and "lobby" to ensure that Henderson, who slashed the throats of three upcounty residents in 1999, never sets foot outside a maximum security prison.

Henderson's attorney, Audrey Creighton — who has blamed Henderson's cousin for the murder — said she would appeal. She asked McGann to suspend 45 years of Henderson's sentence and described her client as an alcoholic, who drank six glasses of gin before the shooting.

None of Henderson's friends or family attended the hearing.

"I deeply apologize for what has happened," Henderson said, stopping short of taking responsibility for Harvey's murder. "I regret what Lindsay Harvey went through and the pain that it has caused. I hope you will look deep within your heart and forgive all of us for what has happened."

Harvey's parents, Debra and Craig Harvey of Oneonta, N.Y., were among the people who spoke about Lindsay.

"The death of my daughter Lindsay Marie Harvey has taken such a toll on my family that I don't know where to start or how to try to explain how much pain and anguish this has caused," Craig Harvey said and referred to his daughter as "the glue and the substance of our family."

In February, a jury convicted Henderson of robbing and shooting Harvey, a DNA analyst, as she walked from her car to her apartment on Quince Orchard Boulevard.

Henderson robbed her of $40 and left her to die behind a trash bin, according to Assistant State's Attorneys George E. Simms III and Sherri Koch, who said that Henderson recruited two younger companions to help with the crime.

Aaron Shepherd, 20, of Gaithersburg was convicted in January of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Anthony Moore, 17, pleaded guilty to the same charge in March and was sentenced to 18 months. Shepherd is Henderson's cousin.

Henderson was on probation for three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying a weapon openly with the intent to injure when he killed Harvey, the judge said. In 1999, he slashed the throats of two upcounty residents and stabbed another in the neck in robberies outside the victims' homes. Like Harvey, the victims had surrendered their belongings before they were attacked.

Henderson was released from prison nearly six years early through a combination of "good behavior" credits in prison and a sentence reconsideration.