Mother who tortured, punched, kicked and burned her daughter, nine, over 17 months, eventually delivering fatal blow sentenced to 15 years to life in prison

Abuse: In the 17 months that Elizabeth Holloway, nine, lived with her mother, she was choked, punched, kicked, burned and thrown on the ground

A mother who punched and kicked her daughter, nine, for 17 months until she eventually died has been sentenced to spend at least 15 years in prison for her death.

Crystal Cardenas, 27, from San Diego, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder. Her daughter Elizabeth died in hospital after receiving a fatal punch and kick to her stomach.

Deputy District Attorney Lindsey Krause said Elizabeth Holloway was choked, punched, kicked, burned and thrown to the ground during the time she lived with her mother.

She told the court she had spoken to her daughter like she was a piece of trash and discarded her like a piece of trash.

According to UT San Diego, Elizabeth’s father, Willie Holloway Jr, told Cardenas in court: 'I don’t know how you could do this to her. I just want justice. I’m going to leave it in God’s hands.'

The nine-year-old had been living with her father until September 2009, when she moved in with her mother, sister, seven, and one-year-old brother.

Cardenas inflicted 'slapping, punching, kicking, choking, stomping and actually burned her daughter', Deputy District Attorney Lindsey Krause told the judge.

A few days before she died, Cardenas punched Elizabeth in the stomach with such force, she severed her intestine and bruised her pancreas.

She vomited, lost feeling in her lower leg and told her half-sister she felt like she was dying.

When she was rushed to hospital after passing out two days later, doctors said she died from internal injuries.

Cardenas' boyfriend Lorenzo Castillo, who was living with them, pleaded guilty last year to felony child abuse and was sentenced to nine years behind bars.

The judge said Cardenas will remain in prison a full 15 years, then it will be up to the state parole board whether she serves additional time.