Bouncer jailed for nightclub killings

A New York City nightclub bouncer has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for two killings he claimed police committed.

Stephen Sakai declined to speak as he was sentenced at the state Supreme Court in Brooklyn.

The 32-year-old was convicted last month of second-degree murder over the 2005 deaths of Wayne Tyson and Edwin Mojica.

Mr Mojica had hired Sakai to work at a nightclub. Mr Tyson was a patron at another club where Sakai worked.

During his trial, Sakai claimed police killed the victims because they were helping him gather evidence against corrupt officers.

Authorities said Sakai made incriminating statements about the killings after he was arrested in a deadly shootout outside a trendy Manhattan lounge in May 2006. Sakai is awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge in the Manhattan case.