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Idaho child killer sentenced to death

28/08/2008

A jury in the United States has sentenced a man to death for kidnapping, abusing and killing a nine-year-old boy.

Joseph Duncan, 45, was sentenced after a two-week trial in Idaho during which prosecutors portrayed him as a dangerous predator who carefully planned the kidnap and abuse of his victims.

"I haven't seen anything that comes close to the horrendous facts that were presented in this case," US attorney Tom Moss said after sentencing on Wednesday.

"Absolutely, justice was served."

In December, Duncan pleaded guilty to kidnapping and molesting Shasta and Dylan Groene, as well as the torture and murder of the latter.

The Reuters news agency reports that the 12-member jury were shown video recordings made by Duncan as he sexually abused and tortured the nine-year-old boy.

The footage shows Dylan hanging from a noose before Duncan shots him in the abdomen and then in the head from point-blank range while his sister watched.

The 45-year-old also pleaded guilty to the deaths of the children's mother Brenda Groene, her boyfriend Mark McKenzie and their brother Slade Groene on the night the children were kidnapped.