A Texas man who killed a suburban Detroit couple has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release.

Miguel Servando pleaded guilty in November to two counts of murder-for-hire. The 41-year-old El Salvador native was hired to kill Brij Chhabra and Aasha Chhabra to settle a financial dispute. They were shot at their Troy home in March 2008.

U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen told Servando yesterday he deserved the death penalty for killing the Chhabras and might have received it if he had not cooperated with federal and state officials.

Michigan has abolished the death penalty for state offenses, but
the federal death penalty can be imposed for certain crimes.

The Detroit News reports Servando is cooperating against two Houston men accused of hiring him.