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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A jury that convicted George Thomas of murder in the slayings of a young Knoxville couple has sentenced him to life in prison with no parole.

The jury, brought in from Hamilton County to hear the case, deliberated for only about two hours on Thursday before returning its sentencing verdict, reported WBIR-TV.

Thomas - of Lebanon, Ky. - was convicted Tuesday in the carjacking and torture murders of 21-year-old Channon Christian and 23-year-old Christopher Newsom.

On Wednesday, jurors heard testimony from the families of the victims and of Thomas.

Thomas was the third defendant to be tried and convicted in the January 2007 slayings.

In earlier trials, ringleader Lemaricus Davidson was sentenced to death and his brother Letalvis Cobbins, was sentenced to life without parole. Eric Boyd was convicted of being an accessory and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)