Former owner of downtown Palo Alto’s “Da Hookah Spot” Paul Zumot, 37, was sentenced Friday at 3 p.m. to 33 years to life for murdering his girlfriend Jennifer Schipsi and burning down their home.

Zumot’s sentence includes eight years for the arson and 25 years to life for the murder, to be served consecutively. He is eligible for parole. It comes eight months after jurors convicted him of first-degree murder and aggravated arson.

Schipsi, 29, was strangled on Oct. 15, 2009. Her body was found burned in the Addison Avenue home she shared with Zumot. During the sentencing, the victim’s father, Jim Schipsi, delivered the victim impact statement.

During Zumot’s four-and-a-half-week trial, the prosecution relied heavily on evidence of his physical and mental abuse during their relationship–such as heated text message exchanges. Zumot explicitly claimed during the sentencing that he is innocent and was placed in a holding cell after a 20-minute outburst.

“I believe it’s quite apparent what kind of monster we’re dealing with,” Jim Schipsi said.

“You are the monster,” Zumot retorted.

He rejected Santa Clara Superior Court Judge David Cena’s invitation to re-enter the courtroom after Schipsi’s aunt Dee Towner delivered a statement. Many of the trial’s attendees were Schipsi’s family and friends.

“I want you to spend the rest of your pitiful life in a jail far away from here,” Towner said in her statement.

Zumot attempted to postpone his sentencing by telling Cena that he fired his attorney Mark Geragos last month for failing to prove his innocence. He requested that the court appoint him a new attorney, but Cena stated that Zumot had time to hire a new attorney and rejected his reasons as insufficient to delay his sentencing.

“This day has been a long time coming,” Jim Schipsi said in his statement.

– Ellora Israni