Actor jailed for life for stabbing ex

An actor who appeared in hit comedy film The 40-Year-Old Virgin has been sentenced to life in prison with possible parole for stabbing his former girlfriend more than 20 times.

Shelley Malil was sentenced by San Diego County Superior Court Judge Harry Eilas in suburban Vista.

The prosecutor says Mr Malil could be freed on parole in nine years.

In September, a jury convicted Mr Malil of attempted premeditated murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

The 45-year-old Indian-born actor testified that he had visited Kendra Beebe at her San Marcos home in August 2008 to apologise for taking personal items from her house. He stabbed her with a kitchen knife after finding her with another man.

Mr Malil played Haziz, a co-worker of Steve Carell’s character in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Ms Beebe suffered punctured lungs and wounds to her neck, chest, back and arms in the attack.

Seated before the court, the Indian-born actor apologised for stabbing Ms Beebe and said he wanted to go to prison. “I want to do whatever I need to do to make sure I make right from the wrong that I did,” he said.

“Kendra Beebe did not deserve anything that happened to her. I can’t even begin to imagine what she has been through,” he added. Before the sentencing, Ms Beebe also spoke to the court about the physical and emotional pain she had suffered.