One of two teenage brothers charged in the killing of 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale last year pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated manslaughter and took "sole responsibility" for her death, Camden County Prosecutor Warren Faulk said at a news conference.
Justin Robinson, 16, of Clayton, faces a sentence of 17 years, 85 percent of which must be served before he is eligible for parole.
Justin & Dante Robinson
"Autumn's death was senseless, and it shook the community to its core," Faulk said Wednesday. "There will never be punishment commensurate with her brutal killing. The best we can do is achieve some measure of justice."
The plea came after Robinson was voluntarily waived from juvenile to adult court by a Gloucester County judge. Justin's brother, 17-year-old Dante, is also charged in Autumn's death. Faulk said he could not comment on that case because of restrictions placed on juvenile proceedings.
Justin Robinson admitted choking Autumn to death in the basement of his home, Faulk said. He did not offer a motive.
Autumn, a seventh grader at Clayton Middle School, was reported missing the night of Oct. 20, 2012, nine hours after she left her father's house on her white BMX bike.
After a search that involved 200 officers from 20 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and numerous residents, her body was found two days later about a mile away in a recycling bin next to the Robinsons' house.
Justin Robinson, a Clayton High School student who was 15 at the time of the killing, and Dante Robinson, a special-education student at the Bankbridge School in Sewell, were arrested and charged with her murder hours later.
Four days before Autumn disappeared, Justin had invited her on Facebook to his house to work on her bicycle and potentially exchange parts.
http://articles.philly.com/2013-08-09/news/41171281_1_dante-robinson-autumn-pasquale-justin-robinson
If Obama had sons....
Justin Robinson, 16, of Clayton, faces a sentence of 17 years, 85 percent of which must be served before he is eligible for parole.
Justin & Dante Robinson
"Autumn's death was senseless, and it shook the community to its core," Faulk said Wednesday. "There will never be punishment commensurate with her brutal killing. The best we can do is achieve some measure of justice."
The plea came after Robinson was voluntarily waived from juvenile to adult court by a Gloucester County judge. Justin's brother, 17-year-old Dante, is also charged in Autumn's death. Faulk said he could not comment on that case because of restrictions placed on juvenile proceedings.
Justin Robinson admitted choking Autumn to death in the basement of his home, Faulk said. He did not offer a motive.
Autumn, a seventh grader at Clayton Middle School, was reported missing the night of Oct. 20, 2012, nine hours after she left her father's house on her white BMX bike.
After a search that involved 200 officers from 20 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and numerous residents, her body was found two days later about a mile away in a recycling bin next to the Robinsons' house.
Justin Robinson, a Clayton High School student who was 15 at the time of the killing, and Dante Robinson, a special-education student at the Bankbridge School in Sewell, were arrested and charged with her murder hours later.
Four days before Autumn disappeared, Justin had invited her on Facebook to his house to work on her bicycle and potentially exchange parts.
http://articles.philly.com/2013-08-09/news/41171281_1_dante-robinson-autumn-pasquale-justin-robinson
If Obama had sons....
