Criminal Court has sentenced Marvin (Yoosuf) who was convicted of murdering his wife, nurse Mary Grace, to 25 years in prison.

Marvin and now known as Yoosuf after converting to Islam, was found guilty last month of intentionally killing his wife in October 2021.

According to the prosecution, he assaulted Mary before taking her body to hospital in an attempt to conceal the crime.

During today's sentencing hearing, prosecutors sought a 25-year prison term, arguing that the offence claimed the life of a person entitled to protection and deprived the couple's child of a mother's care.

Although the statutory starting sentence for intentional homicide is 10 years, the prosecution requested an enhanced sentence. The defence asked the court to impose the minimum penalty.

Judge Muzammil Nasir instead sentenced Marvin to 25 years in prison, citing the gravity of the offence. The judge said Mary had been killed without any fault on her part and that the defendant had attempted to cover up the crime. He also noted that the killing had deprived the couple's child of a mother's love.

Yoosuf has already spent four years, six months and four days in custody. After crediting time served, he will remain in prison for a further 20 years, three months and five days.

A second defendant, Maldivian nurse Lamha, was also charged in the case. Prosecutors alleged she had an affair with Yoosuf and participated in Mary's murder. She has also been convicted by the Criminal Court and is due to be sentenced separately.