A chef who told police he cooked his wife's body in boiling water has been sentenced to between 15 years and life in prison for second-degree murder.

David Viens gave a rambling 45-minute speech during today's sentencing in Los Angeles, saying the story he told police about cooking the body was a lie.

He said he was disorientated at the time after having surgery for injuries he suffered when he jumped off a cliff.

The 49-year-old Viens was convicted in September of killing 39-year-old Dawn Viens in 2009. Her body was never found.

In a recorded interrogation presented at trial, Viens said he cooked her body for four days to get rid of evidence. Authorities said he leaped off a cliff after learning he was a suspect in her disappearance.

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