Banis sentenced to life behind bars

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man found guilty of murder has been sentenced to life behind bars.

Joseph Banis took the stand at his sentencing hearing Wednesday morning, saying, "I was in no way a party to a plan to rob or murder Jamie Carroll, and I had no foreknowledge that this would occur. I did not know that Jeffrey Mundt wanted to kill Jamie Carroll. If I had believed this, or known this in advance, I would have prevented it."

Banis also said he had no reason to believe either he or Carroll were in danger, and that although he didn't know Mundt well, he had no reason to believe him to be a psychopath or a violent person.

A jury found Banis guilty of killing James Carroll during a night of sex and drugs that eventually became violent. Banis then buried the body of Carroll in the basement of the Old Louisville home he shared with ex-lover Jeffrey Mundt.

Mundt was tried separately, but was found not guilty of murder.

Banis will be eligible for parole in 20 years for agreeing to testify against Mundt.

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