A TORTURE killer who made his disabled victim drink a cocktail of human faeces and urine before raping and murdering her has been sentenced to death.

Melvin Knight was branded "one of the worst" criminals in Pennsylvania history following the sadistic slaughter of Jennifer Daugherty, who had learning difficulties.

3 Melvin Knight was branded 'one of the worst' killers in Pennsylvania history Credit: Westmoreland County Prision

An appeal hearing jury took around seven hours deliberating his fate before agreeing he should be given the lethal injection.

They heard how Knight and five others spent two days torturing the 30-year-old at their apartment in Greensburg. She was raped before being beaten and stabbed to death.

Knight and his cronies then bizarrely wrapped their victim's body in Christmas lights and a garland, before dumping it in a high school car park.

Ironically Knight, 30, begged jurors not to end his life even though he and his pals took a vote to kill Ms Daugherty before the February 2010 slaying.

3 Jennifer Daugherty was tortured, raped and then murdered Credit: CBS

His defence team also argued his life should be spared as he was too "mentally challenged" to face execution and should be sentenced to life in prison instead.

Earlier, prosecutor John Peck told how Knight killed his victim to cover up the horrific rape and torture he had inflicted on her, reports Trib Live.

Peck said: “Melvin Knight helped kidnap, terrorise and kill Jennifer Daugherty … Return the proper verdict, which, in this case, is death.”

Knight and two of his fellow killers - Amber Meidinger and Ricky Smyrnes - were condemned to die.

3 Accomplices Amber Meidinger and Ricky Smyrnes were also condemned to die

MOST READ IN NEWS Latest STARK WARNING UK coronavirus cases rise by 6,634 in highest increase EVER in 24 hours STORE TOT SNATCH Family's horror as 'kidnap gang try to rip girl, 1, from pram' in TK Maxx DOMINANT STRAIN New Covid mutation is 'more contagious & could adapt to get round masks' FACE FACTS The 6 times you can refuse to wear a face mask and NOT face fines HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order Exclusive PIERS PRESSURE Couple wiped out village's internet for 18 MONTHS to watch Piers on £30 TV

The killer was described as a ‘man-child’ by his attorney Tim Dawson as he tried to convince jurors to sentence him to life in prison. He is said to have a mental age of between nine and 12.

Ms Daugherty’s three other killers have all been sentenced to 30 years to life in jail without parole.

“Jennifer has finally gotten justice again,” said Daugherty’s mother, Denise Murphy, outside the courtroom after the verdict.

As Daugherty’s family members embraced, Knight showed no emotion as he was led from the courtroom.