A Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge yesterday sentenced a woman to life in prison for the high-profile kidnapping and strangling death of a promising young model last year.

In addition to the life sentence, Judge Suos Sam Ath ordered Sun Kimheng, 23, to pay $28,000 to the family of Lim Srey Pich, the 19-year-old model Kimheng was convicted of kidnapping and killing last October.

The murder occurred less than a month after Srey Pich – also known as Lim Yurimey – the daughter of a wealthy car dealer, won a contest to become the face of Spy Wine Coolers.

Kimheng befriended Srey Pich through Facebook, and lured her to her house in Chamkarmon district, where she strangled her with wire before dumping her body at a pagoda about 35 kilometres outside Phnom Penh on October 25.

After killing her, Kimheng used the victim’s mobile phone to text her parents and demand a $50,000 ransom.

Kimheng can appeal the decision, Sam Ath said.