Arsonist: 'No remorse' for fatal blaze

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Michael Piranian, who beat a sleeping woman and set a house fire that left another woman dead, was sentenced Thursday.

Piranian assaulted one of the house's residents with a pipe as she slept in March after setting the house on fire. He had intended to kill her and another person, but both intended victims escaped the blaze.

Kori VanHulle, who was not an intended target and was asleep in the basement, did die in the fire.

At his sentencing, the 62-year-old Piranian spoke about a conspiracy among his roommates to harass him.

"As a defendant I have taken responsibility for my actions, but I am also a victim, who was pushed to the breaking point after being constantly harassed, verbally abused and threatened," Prianian said.

He blamed the 24-year-old VanHulle for supporting the conspiracy.

Thursday, her mother asked for the judge to ignore the plea deal and keep him behind bars for life.

"Michael Malcolm Piranian deserves death for murdering my daughter," said mother Debbie VanHulle. "Life in prison is more mercy than he deserves, but will bring minor justice to Kori and our family."

Under the plea deal, Piranian's minimum sentence could not be more than 30 years in prison. The judge said he reluctantly decided to follow those guidelines. Piranian will spend between 30-100 years in prison.

"I know the truth, my God knows the truth, thus I have no remorse nor any regrets," he said.

"Wow," several people in the courtroom said.

"You set this house on fire, you assaulted these two women, you hit them with a pipe. This 24-year-old lady died of smoke inhalation. And you stand before me and say you have no regrets whatsoever. I find that absolutely outrageous," the judge replied.

Piranian will be 92 years old when he first becomes eligible for parole.

Piranian pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and a lesser charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm in October.