Mustafa Ali received a life sentence in prison Wednesday, as decided by the jury in the ongoing murder trial.

Ali received two life sentences without parole for the October 2007 murders of Loomis employees William Widmaier and Joseph Alullo. Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart ordered the terms be served consecutively.

The jury debated for three hours about the sentencing, after finding Ali guilty of first-degree murder last week.

A jury yesterday found Mustafa Ali guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of Joseph Alullo and William Widmaier.

Ali faced murder charges in the 2007 deaths of the two Loomis employees, who were shot outside a bank at Bustleton and Bleigh avenues while working. The 38-year-old was acquitted of attempted murder charges against a third guard who was in the armored truck at the time of the shooting.

It will now be up to the jury to determine Ali’s (formerly Shawn Steele) punishment. He faces the death penalty.

Trial proceedings will continue today in the deaths of Loomis employees Joseph Alullo and William Widmaier.

Closing arguments are expected today in the case against 38-year-old Mustafa Ali, who is charged with murdering the two former police officers at Bustleton and Bleigh avenues in October 2007.

If convicted, Ali could face the death penalty.

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

According to a recent poll, Mayor Michael Nutter’s highest approval rating is in the Northeast. The poll, done by Pew’s Philadelphia Research Initiative, has Nutter’s rating at 59 percent in this part of the city, while only 42 percent of North Philadelphians favor Nutter.

Keep reading for snow photos, murder trial testimonies and more.

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Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia City Council held a hearing to learn more information on the death of 63-year-old Joaquin Rivera, who died last November in the E.R. waiting room of Aria Health-Frankford. Rivera, having been told to wait, sat and died over an hour later. A few minutes after, camera caught three men robbing him. In turn, the hospital is defending its handling of the situation.

Continue reading for an update on a 2007 murder/robbery, news on Chile students at Holy Family, and more. continue reading »

It was Oct. 4, 2007 when Loomis employees William Widmaier and Joseph Alullo were murdered while on a job for the armored truck company.

Now the killer is set to face trial, with jury selection beginning this week. continue reading »