Beatle sentenced to life in US for murders in Syria

Alexandra Kotey, 38, pled guilty in September to eight criminal offenses stemming from the kidnapping, torture, and murder of IS prisoners in Syria. Kotey, who was born in London, remained emotionless as judge Thomas Selby Ellis pronounced his decision. His acts were described as “egregious, aggressive, and brutal” by Judge Ellis.

The court observed of Kotey’s victims, “These were not prisoners of war, these were not troops in the field they were warriors for good. The court stated that Kotey “seems to have some remorse” and has promised to meet with the relatives of his victims. “If there is a hereafter,” the judge speculated,

“maybe you can compensate there.”

Kotey declined to speak in court, stating that he had nothing more to add to a letter he had written to the judge before the sentencing. Kotey stated in the 25-page handwritten letter that he accepts “full responsibility” for his acts and remains dedicated to meeting with the families of his victims, adding that he is “optimistic” about any dialogue he may have with them.

Hostages claimed Kotey, El Shafee Elsheikh, and Mohammed Emwazi were part of an IS cell dubbed “the Beatles” (after the band) because of their British accents. Emwazi was assassinated in Syria in 2015. A fourth guy, Aine Davis, who was convicted of being a senior member of a terrorist organization and is presently imprisoned in Turkey, is also considered to be a member of the cell.

Kotey declined to speak in court, stating that he had nothing more to add to a letter he had written to the judge before the sentencing. According to reports, the group’s efforts led to the deaths of four US hostages: journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as humanitarian workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig. They are also accused of killing British humanitarian workers David Haines and Alan Henning, as well as Japanese journalists Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto.

Kotey was apprehended by a Kurdish militia in Syria in January 2018 and turned over to US soldiers in Iraq before being brought to the US for prosecution in 2020. Elsheikh, 33, who was recently convicted of fatal hostage kidnapping and murder plot, also attended the sentence.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in August, but Judge Ellis ordered him to appear at the hearing on Friday so that the heartbroken family testifying in the Alexandria, Virginia courthouse would not have to repeat their testimonies. Family members revealed the uncertainty they had while their loved ones were in captivity, as well as the anguish they felt when they died.

On Friday morning, James Foley’s brother told the court that he felt sorry for the militants “for succumbing to hatred.”Michael Foley stated that his brother would rather that they “spent the remainder of their time in prison reflecting.”

Kotey was dressed in a green sweater and kept his gaze fixed on family members while they chatted. Elsheikh sat peacefully, his hands folded in his lap. At one point, he closed his eyes, causing Steven Sotloff’s mother, Shirley Sotloff, to implore firmly: “Please don’t shut your eyes. Take a look at me. That is something you must do.”

Bethany Haines, David Haines’ daughter, was among those who sat through every day of the Elsheikh trial. She stated in her statement: “I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since my father was kidnapped. I wake up in the middle of the night to my father’s screams as he is tortured by these men.”