In a closed-door hearing on Wednesday, Pärnu County Court granted the sentence for Andres Võsu that had been sought by Lääne district prosecutor Anne Sillaots, uudised.err.ee reported.

The court said Võsu suffered from a sexual behavioral problem, but that it did not prevent him from facing trial or serving his punishment.

The judge said Võsu was a high risk to commit future crimes, and that the life sentence was a necessary measure.

"Andres Võsu's behavior in disregard of the law has become the norm. He has been been convicted of crimes on six previous occasions, and that fact alone attests to his antisocial behavior. He finished serving his last punishment in full - five years - and was released in April 2011."

Võsu was also ordered to pay 2,457 euros to cover civil actions and fines and court costs totaling 27,526 euros.

He has seven days to appeal.

Võsu was convicted of beating and strangling a 55-year-old woman in an apartment in Audru in 2011. He dismembered her body and disposed of it in the area.

In April 2012, he killed a 21-year-old woman. The M.O. was almost identical. There was also a robbery motive in that case.

He is a person of interest in the disappearance of a third woman.

If his conviction and sentence stand, he would be one of 37 prisoners serving life sentences in Estonia.