A US judge has praised the victims of the so-called Islamic State terror cell known as The Beatles as “undeniably heroes” as he sentenced one of the group’s British members to life behind bars. Alexanda Amon Kotey, 38, originally from Paddington, London, showed no emotion as he was handed eight life sentences for his crimes at Alexandria District Court, in Virginia, on Friday.
Judge Thomas Selby Ellis described his actions as “egregious, violent and inhumane” and described the victims as “soldiers for good”. The court heard 13 impact statements from members of the victims’ families, including those of British humanitarians Alan Henning and David Haines.
“We have all witnessed (the) exceptionally moving, heart-rending statements of these victims’ families,” Mr Ellis said, becoming audibly emotional himself following the statements. “It should be a reminder of what we knew about the hostages.
