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Charlie Samuel, the 50-year-old parolee who had been released due to a clerical error pleaded guilty to the 2009 murder of teenager Lily Burk yesterday, and was sentenced to life in prison.
Smauel admitted to murdering Burk, 17, after abducting her from the area around Southwestern University where the teenager was running an errand for her mother. In court yesterday, as outlined in a release issued by the LA County DA's office, Samuel
admitted the special circumstances for the murder - carjacking, kidnapping and robbery. He additionally pleaded guilty to one count each of kidnapping to commit robbery, second-degree robbery, attempted first-degree ATM robbery, carjacking and kidnapping for the purpose of carjacking. In addition, he admitted prior convictions including robbery and burglary in San Bernardino County and petty theft with a prior conviction, a felony, in Los Angeles County.
Burk's parents were present, but delivered only written remarks. Samuel addressed them verbally in court, offering his apology for the murder of their child. In total, Samuel was sentenced "to life without the possibility of parole, plus 100 years to life, plus another 30 years for the prior felony convictions."
