A U.S. marine who murdered a prostitute in Hawaii by stabbing her in the head with a lipstick knife has been sentenced to life in prison after a military court martial. 

Nathaniel Cosby, 39, claimed he killed Ivanice 'Ivy' Harris, 29, in self defense in his hotel room on Waikki after she slashed him in the arm with the knife. He then panicked and dumped her body on the beach on May 16, 2013.

Harris, a Las Vegas prostitute, was on vacation in Hawaii with her pimp and two friends. Cosby was a marine master sergeant ordinance disposal technician who has been temporarily assigned for duty in Hawaii. 

Nathaniel Cosby, 38, was a marine master sergeant who was on temporary duty in Hawaii when he killed a prostitute he had taken back to his hotel room

Nathaniel Cosby, 38, was a marine master sergeant who was on temporary duty in Hawaii when he killed a prostitute he had taken back to his hotel room

Ivanice 'Ivy' Harris, 29, was on a Las Vegas prostitute who was on vacation in Hawaii with her pimp and two friends when she was murdered

Ivanice 'Ivy' Harris, 29, was on a Las Vegas prostitute who was on vacation in Hawaii with her pimp and two friends when she was murdered

Cosby's defense lawyer claimed the victim Harris pulled out a lipstick knife and slashed Cosby. Cosby then grabbed the knife and stabbed her in the temple (stock image)

Cosby's defense lawyer claimed the victim Harris pulled out a lipstick knife and slashed Cosby. Cosby then grabbed the knife and stabbed her in the temple (stock image)

In April, a military jury convicted Cosby of murder and obstruction of justice and recommended a life sentence. Last week, U.S. Marine Corps Pacific commander, Lieutenant General Terry Robling, who has ultimate say on the case, agreed and upheld the sentence. He will also be dishonorably discharged.

Cosby's lawyer said Cosby had been drinking for 10 hours when he met Harris at a bar and took her back to his hotel room. 

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At some point, Harris woke Cosby up and said 'you need to pay me.' When Cosby tried to push her out of the hotel room, Harris pulled out a razor blade knife hidden in a lipstick tube and slashed Cosby across the arm, defense attorney Lieutenant Colonel Clay A. Plummer told a jury, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 

Cosby Ivy Harris

Cosby claimed he stabbed Harris in the temple with a lipstick knife in self defense after she slashed him in the arm when he refused to pay her

Harris' friends reported her missing the next day after she didn't return from Cosby's apartment. She had just celebrate her 29th birthday

Harris' friends reported her missing the next day after she didn't return from Cosby's apartment. She had just celebrate her 29th birthday

Harris' body was found in a bush near the beach, where Cosby dumped it

Harris' body was found in a bush near the beach, where Cosby dumped it

 'When that knife slid across his arm, he reacted,' Lt Col Plummer said, according to the newspaper. 

He grabbed the knife and stabbed Harris in the temple. 

He then took her body to a beach on the Waianae Coast and dumped her in the bushes. 

Harris' friends reported her missing the next day. 

The case will go for appeal at the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review in Washington, D.C, which is standard procedure.

Cosby is currently being held at the U.S. Military Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the Pentagon's maximum security prison. 

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