A Canadian woman has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of her nine-year-old daughter.

Laura Coward was arrested in Alberta, Canada, in August 2014, two days after her daughter Amber Lucius was reported missing.

At the time Ms Coward's divorce from Amber's father, Duane Lucius, had just been finalised. Mr Lucius was to take full custody of the child.

Ms Coward, who had told friends she was taking Amber stargazing, instead took her daughter to a remote location where she gave her prescription sleeping pills. She then set her SUV on fire, with Amber inside.