Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell on Tuesday refused to recommend parole for Jens Soering, a twice-convicted murderer serving two life sentences for killing his girlfriend’s parents in 1985. McDonnell reviewed the politically sensitive case at the request of Soering’s lawyer, but concluded that “nothing in the information provided by Soering or his attorney provides any basis for me to doubt the judgment of the jury in this case or the veracity of Soering’s own confessions.”

Soering’s lawyer, Gail Ball, said the governor’s move was not unexpected.