A member of an Islamic State terrorist cell known as 'The Beatles' has been jailed for life. El Shafee Elsheikh's crimes were linked to the murder of American hostages in Syria.
Elsheikh, 34, who grew up in London, showed no emotion as judge Thomas Selby Ellis delivered his verdict at Alexandria District Court, Virginia, while members of his victims’ families watched on. He was given a life sentence for each of the eight counts he was convicted of in April, which are due to run concurrently.
The counts related to his role in a hostage-taking scheme which involved torturing, beating and executing prisoners. Raj Parekh, representing the families, said Elsheikh – known to prosecutors as “Ringo” – remained “defiantly remorseless and unrepentant”.
