“Those opportunities were severed forever when he was murdered in cold blood,” he said.

In stark contrast to the way her son was described, Liu described Pan as a “cunning, insidious and vicious person.”

She and prosecutor Stacey Miranda made mention of the intentional, preplanned nature of Jiang’s killing.

Jiang’s father Mingchen Jiang said that he failed to find the words to describe the grief he felt when he thought of the way his son died.

“We’re grieving not only the loss of a beloved son but with the cruel manner in which he was taken from us,” he said. “He had a bright future, one that promised to spread god’s love far and wide, yet his life was cruelly cut short by a deliberate and calculated act.”

Pan spoke briefly, saying, “I feel sorry for what my actions caused. I feel very bad for what happened. It was very horrible.”

Judge Gerald R. Harmon, in handing down his sentencing, urged Pan to use his time in prison to realize the magnitude of his actions and the never-ending grief they caused. He called Jiang a “bright light.”

“I know this is a very sorrowful moment for everyone here, but what I’ve heard today is that Kevin is such a bright light,” he said. “There’s nothing that could have been done to extinguish that light in any manner and that light is going to continue to shine.”

Harmon said that Pan would not be eligible for parole or probation and instituted a 60-year protective order between Pan, Perry and Jiang’s parents, who he encouraged to live as Jiang did — in service to his country, to the earth and to those he loved.

“In terms of everyone here today, I ask that they all carry Kevin’s light forward,” he said. “Kevin is not going to be forgotten. And no matter what actions the defendant has done, none of that will extinguish Kevin’s life.”

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