THE husband who killed his wife then buried her body in a shallow grave in Hampshire woodland was today jailed for life.

Judge Guy Boney QC today sentenced Michael Gifford-Hull to life spending a minimum of 15 years and 332 days behind bars.

Gifford-Hull was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court the day after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife Kirsi.

As he was beginning his life behind bars Kirsi's parents revealed they would never forgive the man who took their daughter from them.

Juhani and Leena Pihlajamaki fought back tears as they finally saw justice for their youngest daughter.

As the jury in the six-week trial delivered their verdict on Gifford-Hull, the couple clasped hands, and said: "There is justice."

Kirsi's son and daughter, who were just nine and 12 when their mother was murdered, were told of the verdict by relatives who have been caring for them in Kirsi's native Finland.

Mr and Mrs Pihlajamaki said they had been "wrong" in thinking that Kirsi would have a long and happy life with Gifford-Hull, after moving to England to marry him and make a new start.

They told the Daily Echo: "As long as we live we will never forgive the man who took our daughter from us."

* Inside the mind of a killer - see today's Daily Echo.