SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 55-year-old Georgia man convicted of killing his former roommate in Sac City has been sentenced to what could amount to life in prison. The Sioux City Journal reports that John Green was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison. State law requires he serve at least 35 years before he’s eligible for parole.

Green had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Mark Koster, but was convicted in April of the lesser offense of second-degree murder. Green had said he killed Koster in self-defense. But prosecutors argued that Green significantly outweighed Koster and therefore didn’t need to kill the man to defend himself.

Koster was declared missing in 2010. His remains were later found buried in his basement after new owners began renovations.