Renato Seabra sentenced 25 years to life in prison for NYC castration murder

(AP) NEW YORK - A Portuguese model has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after he was convicted of murder in the castration and killing of a Portuguese TV personality in a New York City hotel room.

PICTURES: Male Model Arrested for Murder

Renato Seabra, 23, was convicted last month of choking, bludgeoning and mutilating Carlos Castro. Castro's bloodied body was found in January 2011.

The 65-year-old Castro was also a writer. Prosecutors argued the two were a couple and Seabra was angry Castro had ended their relationship. The defense said Seabra was mentally ill. It said he believed he was on a mission to kill what he saw as the devil of homosexuality in Castro.

Seabra asked for forgiveness in court, saying through an interpreter that he didn't know what came over him.

Complete coverage of Renato Seabra on Crimesider