MIRAMICHI – The New Brunswick man convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his cousin has been handed an automatic sentence of life in prison.

Curtis Bonnell will not be eligible for parole for 25 years.

A jury found Bonnell guilty earlier this month of killing 16-year-old Hilary Bonnell.

Her body was found in November 2009, about two months after she disappeared.

Hilary’s mother, Pam Fillier, told the court in a victim impact statement that she hopes Curtis Bonnell is haunted by his crime.