Kingston, Ont (Canada), Jan 30 : Three Canadian-Afghan immigrants have been found guilty of murdering four family members and dumping their bodies in the Rideau Canal, as the judge criticized them for what he called "cold-blooded" killings based on their "twisted notion of honour."

The verdict was reached shortly after 1 p. m. Sunday afternoon and delivered about an hour later.

Justice Robert Maranger sentenced Mohammad Shafia, his wife, Tooba Mohammad Yahya, and their son, Hamed, to life in prison as the sensational trial came to a dramatic end at Frontenac County Court House.

Before the trio was led away in handcuffs and shackles to begin automatic sentences of life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 25 years, each proclaimed their innocence, the Globe and Mail reports.

"You have each been convicted of the planned and deliberate murder of four members of your family," the trial judge said, citing a verdict that was "clearly supported by the evidence presented at this trial.

"It is difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous crime. The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honour, a notion of honour that is founded upon the domination and control of women," he added.

After the proceedings ended, defence lawyer David Crowe said he was "disappointed" with the outcome and there would be an appeal.

Right to the end, the killers maintained they were not guilty.

Shafia, Yahya and Hamed Shafia were convicted of murdering sisters Zainab, Sahar and Geeti Shafia, aged 19, 17 and 13, whose bodies were found in a submerged car at a Rideau Canal lock, just east of Kingston, in June 2009. (ANI)