Miss Honduras World’s killer sentenced to 45 years

Plutarco Ruiz reacts after being found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend Sofia Trinidad Alvarado and her sister, the late former Miss Honduras Mundo, Maria Jose Alvarado, in Tegucigalpa on May 4, 2017.
According to the Honduran Penal Code, Plutarco could be sentenced to 70 years in prison. AFP

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras—The Supreme Court on Wednesday sentenced a man convicted of killing Miss Honduras World and her sister to 45 years in prison.

Plutarco Ruiz, 31, was convicted and sentenced for manslaughter in the case of Miss Honduras World Maria Jose Alvarado Munoz, in 2014. He was also convicted of murdering Sofia Trinidad Alvarado, whom he was dating, said court spokesman Melvin Duarte.

READ: Man convicted of 2014 slaying of Miss Honduras

The murder case shocked even violence-plagued Honduras and captured headlines around the world.

READ: Tears, anger pour for slain Miss Honduras, sister

Alvarado Munoz was a well-known model and TV host at 19 — just about to leave to take part in the Miss World pageant in London.

She and her sister were murdered after a party in Santa Barbara, 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa.

Ruiz was the boyfriend of the sister. The court heard testimony to the effect that he became jealous after seeing her dance with another man, then killed her and her famous sister and buried them in a shallow grave.