Woman gets life for killing son

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CARDIFF, Wales, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A woman convicted in Wales of beating her son to death when he failed to memorize passages from the Koran was sentenced to at least 17 years in prison Monday.

Sara Ege, 33, was given a life sentence by a judge in Crown Court in Cardiff, The Independent reported. Mr. Justice Wyn Williams said she will not be eligible for release for at least 17 years.

Williams found Ege was a victim of marital abuse and had psychiatric problems. But he said she beat her son with a wooden pestle over a period of at least three months and after his death tried to burn his body.

"His injuries must have caused him a good deal of pain. In my judgment Yaseen was subjected to prolonged cruelty," Williams said.

Ege collapsed in court after the sentence was pronounced. Her husband, Yousef, was tried with her and was acquitted.