(CNN) -- Two former top leaders in Cambodia's notorious Khmer Rouge, which ruled the Southeast Asian country between 1975 and 1979, were found guilty of crimes against humanity by a specially-convened Cambodian court Thursday. Before the verdict, only one person had been brought to justice over one of the 20th century's great atrocities. Nuon Chea, the former Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, and Khieu Samphan, the one-time President of Democratic Kampuchea both received life sentences. Nuon Chea, 88, known as "Brother Number Two," and Khieu Samphan, 83, known as "Brother Number Four," were expressionless as the verdict was read.
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Two top leaders of Cambodia's 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime found guilty of crimes against humanity
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Both men sentenced to life imprisonment
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Nuon Chea was the regime's "Brother No. 2" and Khieu Samphan its "No. 4"
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The men are the first Khmer Rouge leaders ever to face justice
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