Life sentence for Paris serial killer

Georges (left) told the court he was considering suicide

A Paris court sentenced the 38-year-old serial killer Guy Georges to life in prison for the rape and murder of seven women in the 1990s.

The sentence that you are going to impose me is nothing, I will inflict a sentence upon myself

Guy Georges

Georges - who was dubbed the "Beast of the Bastille" - faces a minimun 22 years in jail, but it is possible he will never be released after psychiatrists warned that he could not be cured of his desire to kill.

Following his confession last week, he consistently asked for forgiveness from the victims' families.

Before the verdict was delivered he told the court that, whatever the sentence, he was unlikely to serve it as he was considering suicide.

He is a diabolical personality... the incarnation of evil

Public prosecutor Evelyne Lesieur

"You can rest assured, I know that I will never leave prison. But I can assure you that I will never serve my sentence" he said.

And he added: "The sentence that you are going to impose me is nothing, I will inflict a sentence upon myself".

Victims

He started the trial saying he was innocent, but reversed his plea after his lawyer told him it was time to talk.

Georges was arrested in March 1998, and admitted his guilt to police, but later retracted his confession, claiming the police had beaten it out of him.

His seven victims had their throats cut after being raped. All were single, aged between 19 and 27.

Some were attacked in car parks; others were followed to their homes and killed there.

Police said his victims were all attractive women, who appeared energetic and successful.

Georges continues to deny four other sex attacks with which he is charged.

Bungling claims

The trial followed one of France's biggest manhunts, which was beset by claims of police bungling.

Officers failed to match up DNA results for several months, and at least one murder was committed while George was on day release from prison.

Georges, whose father was an American cook working at Nato bases, was raised by a foster family after being abandoned by his parents.

He had previously been jailed for a number of offences, including knifepoint attacks on women committed when he was a teenager.