HANOVER COURTHOUSE, Va. (AP) — A Virginia man convicted of beating his wife to death with a hammer has been sentenced to life in prison.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports 34-year-old Harshadkumar Jadav was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of first-degree murder last June in Reena Jadav’s killing.

Defense attorney Charles C. Cosby Jr. asked Hanover County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Kelly for a lighter sentence, adding his client has two master’s degrees and no prior criminal record.

Kelly refused.

Deputies found 30-year-old Reena Jadav’s body on Sept. 5, 2016, in a lawn one street over from where the couple lived.

County Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Shari Skipper says Reena Jadav had a broken skull and jaw from the at least 19 blows she suffered during the attack, among other injuries.

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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.richmond.com