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Alleged serial killer Verry Idham “Ryan” Henyansyah was found guilty of premeditated murder on Monday by the district court in Depok, West Java Province, and given the death penalty.

But it could be years before the self-confessed killer and celebrity author and singer faces a firing squad. Ryan, 31, who was on trial for the first of 11 alleged murders, also faces murder charges in his hometown of Jombang, East Java Province, for the other 10.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Monday that Ryan must stand trial in East Java even though he has received the death penalty, because the sentence could be overturned on appeal.

“He still has legal options to appeal to the High Court and the Supreme Court,” said Abdul Hakim Ritonga, the deputy attorney general for general crimes.

A three-member panel of judges, presided over by Judge Suwidya, ruled that Ryan had repeatedly stabbed 40-year-old Heri Santoso with a kitchen knife and skewered him with a 51-centimeter-long crowbar on July 11, 2008, in a jealous rage after the victim, who was visiting his apartment in Depok, had expressed interest in Ryan’s gay lover, Novel Andreas.

Ryan then cut up the body into seven pieces before dumping them in an open field in the Pasar Minggu area of South Jakarta, just 5 kilometers from the scene of the murder, the court ruled.

“The defendant’s actions were sadistic and inhumane,” Judge Suwidya said while issuing the verdict, adding that the court found nothing that could be considered as mitigating circumstances.

Ryan confessed to killing Heri but his defense lawyers had pleaded temporary insanity on his behalf.

After the verdict, Ryan was quickly taken from the courthouse by police guards to the Depok Police station, where he remains in custody. While open to press interviews during his trial, Ryan was not given the opportunity to comment on his conviction and death sentence.

Kasman Sangaji, Ryan’s senior defense lawyer, said the sentence was too severe and maintained that his client was temporarily insane.

“We are a little disappointed because the court dismissed our arguments entirely. There is strong evidence that my client suffered from temporary insanity,” Kasman said.

The defense has seven days to lodge an appeal.

Ryan’s parents, despite being blamed by their son for his behavior problems in his book, “Confession: The Untold Story of Ryan,” cried in the courthouse after the verdict was announced.

“We knew from the start that the chances of winning this case were very slim, but we prayed for him nonetheless,” said Ryan’s father, Ahmad, who is in his 60s “Nothing could prepare us for this decision. He is our boy, after all.”

Ryan’s mother, Kusmiatun, who temporarily relocated to Depok to be near her son and was present throughout the trial, was too upset to respond to questions from reporters.

After his arrest for Heri’s slaying, the nation was shocked by Ryan’s graphic confessions that led to the discovery of 10 more mutilated bodies, including a decapitated 3-year-old girl, buried in the backyard of his parents’ home in Jombang.