The man who says he kidnapped and killed Toronto schoolgirl Cecilia Zhang will find out today when he's eligible for parole.

FROM MAY 9, 2006: Student pleads guilty to killing 9-year-old Cecilia Zhang

Min Chen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday in the death of the nine-year-old, who was taken from her bedroom in October 2003.

Chen, a 23-year-old Chinese visa student, faces an automatic life sentence with eligibility of parole ranging from 10 to 25 years and must submit his DNA to a database of criminal offenders.

Crown lawyers are asking for parole eligibility in the 17-to-20 year range, while Chen's lawyers have asked for 12 years.

Chen told police he planned to kidnap Cecilia and ask for a $25,000 ransom from her parents, Raymond Zhang and Sherry Xu, in order to pay for an arranged marriage to stay in Canada.

But he says he unintentionally smothered the child with a towel when he tried to stop her from screaming.

Chen had been charged with first-degree murder when he was arrested at his Scarborough home in July 2004.

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