A man who pleaded guilty to killing the 7-year-old niece of his ex-girlfriend in 2014 was sentenced to life in prison when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Vivian ‘Anthony’ vernon otherwise called ‘Outlaw’ a bus conductor of bayside in portmore, St. Catherine was also sentenced to two years’ and eleven months’ in prison for the attempted arson of his ex-girlfriend’s home.

He is to serve 21 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

Seven-year-old Kaliesha Cousins, was found dead on November 7, 2014, after going missing two days prior.

A release from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions notes that Cousins was abducted on the morning of Wednesday, November 5, 2014, while she was standing at a bus stop.

She was reported missing to the Central Village police station when she did not turn up for school.

Her body was found floating in the Rio Cobre in the same clothes she had left home in, two days later.

The lower section of her left arm was missing.

Investigations led to the discovery of the child’s school bag at the rear of a premises, occupied by the accused.

An identification card in the name Vivian Vernon was also found at the premises.

Prior to Kaliesha‘s disappearance, her aunt had ended a relationship with the accused.

He later showed up at the property occupied by the woman and other members of her family, and attempted to set fire to her house.

The accused was handed over to police days later and charged. He pleaded guilty to both the charges of murder and attempted arson.

When he appeared before the court on Monday, justice Bertram Morrison took into consideration time already spent in custody to be eight (8) years, before ordering that he serve another 13 years before being eligible for parole.