London ( CNN ) -- The parents of a 17-year-old girl will spend at least 25 years in a British prison for the death of their daughter after the couple 's conviction Friday for killing her over her desire to live a Westernized lifestyle and become an attorney , a court spokeswoman said Friday . Chester Crown Court Judge Roderick Evans sentenced Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed to life in prison . He said the couple , who were originally from Pakistan , must be imprisoned for at least 25 years before being eligible for parole . The sentence came hours after the court found them guilty of murder in the death of Shafilea Ahmed . The girl 's dismembered body was found on a riverbank in February 2004 , months after she disappeared in 2003 . The death was the final act in a long-running effort by the couple to get their daughter to conform to their beliefs , Detective Superintendent Geraint Jones told reporters . `` When this failed , they murdered her , a vile and disgraceful act , '' he said . In sentencing the couple , Evans said they had used `` intimidation , bullying and ... physical violence '' in an effort to force her to adopt ways they viewed as more culturally appropriate . `` Your problem was that , in what you referred to as your 'community , ' Shafilea 's conduct was bringing shame upon you and your concern about being shamed in your community was greater than your love of your child , '' Evans told the couple , according to a transcript provided by court officials . `` In order to rid yourselves of that problem , you killed Shafilea by suffocating her in the presence of your other four children . '' Melissa Powner , a friend of the slain girl , told reporters the conviction `` brought our friend the justice she deserves . '' `` 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 realize that this kind of vile treatment , no matter what culture or background they are from , is not acceptable and there is a way out , '' Powner said in a statement to reporters . The conviction and sentencing came just days after the girl 's mother changed her long-standing denials and testified Monday that she had seen her husband attack their daughter on the night Shafilea died . Iftikhar Ahmed has denied killing his daughter . Read more : Father denies killing daughter in UK 'honor murder ' case . On Monday , Farzana Ahmed testified that she had tried to intervene to protect the girl , but her husband pushed her away and punched her , according to CNN affiliate ITV . She said she was `` extremely scared '' when she fled the room and stayed in a bedroom with other children until she heard a car leaving 20 minutes later . When her husband returned alone , she said , she asked where her daughter was . `` If you care for your dear life and that of your children , do n't ever ask me this question again , '' he told her , ITV reported . Farzana Ahmed testified Monday that only one of their children , Mevish , was present when she saw her husband attacking Shafilea . Another of the couple 's children , Alesha , testified last month that she saw her parents kill her sister . Alesha said her parents were angry that Shafilea was wearing a short-sleeved , V-neck top , and no sweater , on the night she was killed . `` Just end it here , '' Farzana said to Iftikhar , according to their daughter . They pushed Shafilea onto a sofa and suffocated the struggling girl , Alesha testified . Prosecutor Andrew Edis called it `` an act of suffocation by both parents acting together . '' Police will review evidence that came out during trial and could decide to seek additional charges , Detective Chief Inspector Chris Ankers said . `` It 's clear that there are a lot of things in play here , '' he said . Prosecutor Helen Morris used the verdict as an opportunity to urge others who may be suffering or fearful of similar violence and abuse to come forward and `` put your faith in the criminal justice system . '' So-called honor killings , in which members of a family kill relatives because of behavior that they say shames the family , claim about 5,000 lives a year around the world , according to the United Nations Population Fund . In England , the Crown Prosecution Service handled 234 crimes involving alleged `` honor violence '' in 2011 . About half resulted in convictions . CNN 's Richard Allen Greene contributed to this report .
NEW : Couple more concerned about shame than their daughter , judge scolds . Iftikhar and Shafilea Ahmed are sentenced to life in prison in their daughter 's death . Prosecutors : Shafilea Ahmed , 2003 , was killed her because of her Farzana Ahmed lifestyle . Her dismembered body was found on 2003 after she disappeared in a riverbank months .