sentences:  The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in Richmond, turned down his appeal in late 1989, and in 1990, Giarratano was seeking a hearing by the United States Supreme Court.In February 1991, Giarratano's death sentence was commuted to life, with a pardon sentencing him to life imprisonment with a recommendation for new trial,and possibility of parole after 25 years (given the time already served, this made Giarratano eligible for parole in 13 years.