Shortly before the sentence Iftikhar Ahmed told guards to 'f*** off' as they tried to escort him down to the cell.

He and his wife had been found guilty of killing the 17-year-old because she wanted a Western lifestyle. He had held a plastic bag in the mouth of 17-year-old daughter Shafilea until she stopped breathing. His wife Farzana, had urged him on with the words “just finish it here” at their Warrington home in September 2003. Taxi driver Mr Ahmed then drove the body to the Lake District where it was found on the banks of the River Kent the following February.

Today, after the sentence at Chester Crown Court, police praised the courage of Shafilea's younger sister Alesha.

Paul Whittaker, Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: "Shafilea Ahmed was 17 when she died and her 26th birthday fell during the course of this trial. The tragic circumstances of her death must be the focus of our thoughts today. . . The statement of Alesha Ahmed, Shafilea's younger sister, was crucial to our case and today's result is a testament to her courage over the last two years.

"The word 'shame' has been heard many times during the course of this trial, but the shame is not on Shafilea, it is on her parents. Why did they abuse her? Why did they kill her? Put simply, it was because she challenged their regime and refused to conform to their expectations. She wanted to choose how she lived her life and who she married, choices that are fundamental freedoms for any citizen of the United Kingdom. There is no honour in murder and Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed are now starting life sentences for abusing and killing their daughter."

Police inquiries into the so-called "honour killing" were frustrated for eight years until Alesha finally revealed that she and the rest of her siblings had witnessed the murder. They had been too frightened to reveal the truth because their father had threatened to kill them too.

Mrs Ahmed always supported her husband’s claims that Shafilea had merely run away from home. But in court she dramatically changed her story admitting she had seen him slap their daughter twice when she refused to name a boy who had rung her mobile phone.

Both Mr Ahmed 52, and Mrs Ahmed, 49, denied murder but were convicted by the jury after a 10-week trial. Mr Justice Roderick Evans said he would pass sentence at 2.15pm today.

As Iftikhar Ahmed was taken down to the cells, he turned to police officers sitting nearby and said: "F*** off."

Mr Justice Roderick Evans was due to impose the mandatory sentences of life imprisonment later this afternoon.

Speaking after the verdicts, Shafilea's close friend, Melissa Powner, read a statement to the media in which she paid tribute to the teenager and spoke about the pain of having to watch as her killers roamed free.

Miss Powner said: "We have waited for this day for many years. We have watched as her killers roamed free. Yet today we heard those important words - words that have finally brought our friend the justice she deserves. Shafilea was a caring, high-spirited and brave young lady - who, even in her toughest times, always strived to remain positive and hopeful that one day she too would be able to live the peaceful and happy life that she deserved.

"Shafilea was an amazing friend, who, no matter what her own situation was, would always strive to look out for others - a quality that we truly miss.

"If there is one thing that we pray will come from this, it is that her beautiful face and tragic story will inspire others to seek help and make them realise that this kind of vile treatment, no matter what culture or background they are from, is not acceptable and there is a way out."