Sentencing: Life in prison for Lily Burk's killer
Charlie Samuel, a 50-year-old transient with a lengthy criminal history, pleaded guilty Friday to kidnapping and murdering 17-year-old Lily Burk of Los Feliz.
The plea spares Samuel the death penalty, but he will serve the rest of his life in prison, without the possibility of parole, said prosecutors.
Authorities believe Samuel abducted Burk, a high school senior, in her car at Southwestern Law School on July 25, 2009 while she was running errands for her mother, an adjunct professor at the school.
After several failed attempts to get Burk to withdraw cash from an ATM, authorities said Samuel slashed Lily's throat and beat her to death.
Times reporter Jack Leonard has more on the story: Accused killer of Lily Burk pleads guilty, avoids death penalty
Top photo: Lily Burk, family picture. Bottom photo: Charles Samuel, pictured in court during a preliminary hearing. Credit: Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times
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