Published: October 21, 2009 09:10 am      

Pittsburgh man gets life in mother-in-law slaying

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh man has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting his mother-in-law in broad daylight in her vehicle.

Thirty-two-year-old Christopher Mbewe says he’ll appeal because he claims his attorney when he was convicted of first-degree murder in July was ineffective.

Sixty-one-year-old Carol Tollan was found dead in her vehicle on Dec. 15, 2005. Authorities believe Mbewe shot her twice in the face, muffling the gunshots with a silencer he made from his wife’s pajamas and duct tape. Tests showed the silencer had Tollan’s DNA on it.

Mbewe, his wife, and 3-year-old daughter lived with Tollan at the time.

He was sentenced Tuesday by an Allegheny County judge.