IN sentencing Kohli to life in prision with a recommendation that he serve at least 24 years in jail, Mr Justice keith said: “Maninder Kohli, it took a long time for you to be brought to justice but the law caught up with you in the end. The jury saw through your lies and it seemed they exposed you as a heartless and contemptible man who abducted and raped an attractive 17-year-old girl, with everything to live for.

“Cruelly, you took her life so that she wasn’t able to point the finger of guilt at you. The law recognises only one prison sentence and that is one of life imprisonment.”

The judge went on to tell the court that had Kohli committed the crimes after December 18, 2003 when strict new laws came in for sentencing, he would have been looking at the “real possibility” of life meaning life.

But Mr Justice Keith said he was not permitted to sentence him on anything other than what the Home Secretary would have set at that time. Sixteen years was the highest term he could start at, he explained, and factored into that was the aggravating circumstances of her death.

He listed them as:

  • Hannah’s vulnerability as a “young slip of a girl”
  • The terrible and appalling circumstances which Hannah found herself in before her death
  • The wanton way he disposed of her body
  • The unimaginable grief to which Kohli subjected her family to.

“Your determination to avoid justice at all costs, by fleeing this country, going on the run in India and fighting tooth and nail has added considerably to their grief because they have been denied the right of closure,” said Mr Justice Keith.

He described Kohli’s hypocrisy, denial of guilt and “the way you sought to blame others for your crimes.”

He added that Kohli: “Had forfeited any chance of a measure of leniency.” The judge sentenced the 41-year-old to life with a minimum of 24 years less one year and 303 days for time spent in custody. Of that sentence12 years were handed down for rape, six for false imprisonment and six for abduction.

Mr Justice Keith said: “There was no significant lines of inquiry that were overlooked by the police who now should be congratulated on their successful attempt to bring Kohli to justice.”

He asked that his comments be passed on to chief constable.

Addressing Hannah’s family, he said: “I was greatly moved by Mrs Foster’s witness statement. I want Mrs Foster and the other members of her family to know that I have taken into account the unimaginable effect that Hannah’s death and the circumstances of it have had on their lives.

“Throughout this case they have behaved with great dignity when they must have been angry at the fairness shown to Kohli in contrast to what he did to Hannah.

I know that Hannah will be in their hearts forever.”