Complex sentence: It was reported at the time of his death that he had a criminal record running to more than 25 pages in length, and he had just served an 8-year sentence in jail and was released in April 2009.
Split into simpler sentences: It was reported at the time of his death that he had a criminal record running to more than 25 pages in length. Burris had just served an 8-year sentence in jail and was released in April 2009.