Elgin man gets 75 years for killing niece

A family left divided by the 1997 murder of Brittany Martinezreacted bitterly Wednesday as her uncle Edward Milka was sentenced to75 years for the slaying.

But family members were upset for opposite reasons.

Some, including Brittany's parents, said they can't accept anyprison sentence because they remain convinced that Milka, 24, didn'tabduct and kill the Elgin fifth-grader.

"I do feel my brother is 100 percent innocent," said WendiHowlett, Brittany's mother, vowing that she and other relatives wouldwork to reverse Milka's murder conviction. "I pray to God theAppellate Court listens to us, this gets overturned, and Eddie comeshome."

But other relatives, …