A Romanian Orthodox priest and four nuns were sentenced to prison on Monday for their roles in the death of a 23-year-old nun in a crucifixion exorcism ritual in the cellar of a church.

23-year-old Sister Maricica Irina Conici died in June 2005 after spending three days tied to a cross with no food or water during an exorcism ritual designed to cleanse her of the evil spirits the priest and nuns believed possessed her. Conici survived several days without food or water, but died of dehydration, exhaustion and suffocation.

The court sentenced Daniel Petru Corogeanu, a monk who served as the priest for the convent in the northeast city of Vaslui, to 14 years in prison. Prosecutors had sought to convict Corogeanu of aggravated murder with cruel intent, which carried with it a life sentence.

According to the report, one of the nuns, the church's mother superior Nicoleta Arcalianu, was sentenced to eight years in prison, while the other three-Adina Cepraga, Elena Otel and Simona Bardanas-received five-year sentences each.

After the sentences were handed down, lawyers for the defendants said the prison sentences were too harsh and said they planned to appeal the verdict.