KING

Earnest Collins, 18, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 to the murder of taxi driver Jagit Singh.

SEATTLE - A 19-year-old who shot a cabbie to death and set his taxi on fire in SeaTac has been sentenced in Seattle to life in prison without parole.

It was an automatic sentence Friday because Earnest Collins had been convicted last month of aggravated murder and arson.

King County prosecutors say Collins shot the Farwest Taxi driver, Jagjit Singh, in the head last July during a robbery.

The teen broke down and sobbed openly in court last month as a jury found him guilty.

"He did not deserve to die like this, but things happen. That is why the jury is here. The court system is here to serve the justice," said the victim's friend Sarvjeet Singh.

Singh, 43, was found shot twice in the head, his taxi set on fire on in SeaTac on July 10, 2007. Detectives say robbery was the most likely motive.

Detectives believe Collins called Far West Taxi about 2:30 a.m. and had a cab sent to the house where he lived on S. 177th with relatives.

KING

Jagjit Singh was a driver for Far West Taxi.

During a search of Collins' home, detectives found clothing with burn marks, including a shirt that belonged to Collins.  Also, the cell phone used to call Far West was traced to Collins and several people identified Collins' voice as the one who called for a taxi. 

Detectives traced Collins to Chicago where he and his brother were arrested.

Collins' family was extremely emotional after the verdict.

"Of course they must be touched ah, because they were not involved in this. They didn't raise their son for that day," said Inderjait Bawar, Singh's friend.

Singh was trying to make enough money to bring his new wife to America. His death prompted sadness and outrage in the taxi community.

"Three lives, one deceased, are gone for nothing. His wife and his…11-year-old daughter, She has become orphaned. Nobody is there to look after her," said Bawar.