BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhuanet) -- A U.S. young father who severely burnt his infant daughter after putting her in a microwave was sentenced to 25 years in prison, a jury announced on Wednesday.

    The jury had convicted Joshua Mauldin of felony injury to a child, rejecting his claims that he was insane when he put his daughter Ana in the microwave last year.

    Prosecutors said Mauldin hurt his daughter because he was angry that he was in a loveless marriage. They also said Mauldin had a history of violence and of lying about being mentally ill to get out of trouble.

    Mauldin claimed he started hallucinating when he was left alone in a Galveston hotel room with his daughter, feeling like mud was running up his body and consuming him.

    Ana suffered second- and third-degree burns to her left ear, cheek, hand and shoulder and required two skin grafts. Part of her left ear had to be amputated.

    (Agencies)