A British-born terrorist has been sentenced to life in prison in the United States for his role in the torture and killing of Western hostages in Syria.
Alexandra Kotay, a native of Paddington, west London, was one of four extremists from the so-called Islamic State, called the Beatles by her captives because of their English accent.
The group, which allegedly includes leader Mohamed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, El Shafi Elsheikh and Kotei, is responsible for killing a number of Western hostages.
Kotei’s charges were in connection with the murders of American journalists James Foley and Stephen Sotloff and American aid workers Peter Cassig and Kayla Mueller.
He confessed to the four killings, as well as the imposition of torture on hostages, including a water board and electric shocks with a stunning gun.
The group is believed to have killed other Westerners, including Britain’s Alan Henning and David Haynes.
The 38-year-old convert to Islam showed no emotion as Judge Thomas Selby Ellis handed down his sentence in Alexandria District Court, Virginia, while members of his victims’ families watched.
He received a life sentence on each of the eight charges he had previously pleaded guilty to, which must be carried out simultaneously.
Judge Ellis described Kotei’s actions as “outrageous, violent and inhuman.”
Image: James Foley was among the victims of the Beatles of the IDF. Photo: Nicole Tung / Eyepress / Shutterstock
Speaking about Kotei’s victims, the judge said: “These were not prisoners of war, these were not soldiers in the field … they were soldiers forever.”
“I will not hate you,” said the victim’s mother
Thirteen statements of impact were read out in court by members of the victims’ families, including Henning and Haynes.
“I will not hate you,” Peter Cassig’s mother, Paula Cassig, told Kotei during the hearing. “It will give sadness, pain and bitterness too much power over me. I choose to let my heart be broken, not broken.”
Image: David Haynes Memorial Service in 2014
With emotion in his voice after the statements, Judge Ellis said: “We have all witnessed (extremely) touching, heartbreaking statements by the families of these victims.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“Countries celebrate heroes and we must celebrate those personalities who have shown courage, purpose and compassion in the most difficult of circumstances.
“The victims of the hostage-taking by the Islamic State are undoubtedly heroes.
Elsheich, Kotei’s co-defendant, was also present at the victim’s statements about the impact of the trial. He is due to be convicted on August 12th after being found guilty of involvement in a murder plot.
Image: Alexanda Kotey (L) with El Shafee Elsheikh
Kotei pleaded guilty in September last year to several charges, apparently agreeing to co-operate fully with authorities as part of his plea agreement.
These include four hostage-taking charges leading to death; conspiracy to take hostages leading to death; conspiracy to kill United States nationals outside the United States; conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, hostage-taking and killings; and a conspiracy to provide material support to a certain foreign terrorist organization leading to death.
Kotei said that when he left the United Kingdom, he had “the faith and understanding that the Islamic concept of armed jihad is a valid and legitimate cause and a means by which a Muslim protects his fellow Muslim against injustice.”
Read more – Beatles case: Brother of murdered aid worker “looks forward” to face killer in court
He acknowledged his role in the hostage-taking and said that when his involvement ended, he had worked in the IS recruitment department, as a sniper and in the “English media department” of the terrorist group.
Kotei’s lawyers asked the judge to recommend that Kotei not be sent to the Colomara Supermax Prison, known as ADX Florence.
Judge Ellis declined to make any recommendations to the Bureau of Prisons where Kotei would eventually be sent.
This means that Kotey will probably go to ADX Florence, but the Federal Bureau of Prisons has not yet decided where to send Kotey.
Emwazi was killed in a drone strike in 2015.
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