Teen who 'enjoyed' murder gets life
A teenage girl who confessed in her diary to "enjoying" the murder of her nine-year-old neighbour has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Alyssa Bustamante pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of murder of Elizabeth Olten in St Martins, Missouri, when she was 15. She strangled and stabbed the girl before burying her under leaves.
The plea on lesser charges spared her a full murder trial, which would have left her liable to a life sentence without the chance of release.
At a sentencing hearing, her lawyers said she was taking high doses of the drug Prozac at the time of the crime in 2009, making her more prone to violence. They said she should serve only 10 years in jail.
After tearful testimony from Elizabeth's mother Patty Preiss, who called Bustamante a "monster", a judge at Cook County Circuit Court ruled she should serve a life sentence plus 30 years for armed criminal action.
Before sentencing, Bustamante (18), apologised to her victim's family. She said: "If I could give my life to bring her back I would. I'm sorry."
In a journal entry which was read to the court, she described her exhilaration at the killing.
"As soon as you get over the 'ohmygawd I can't do this' feeling, it's pretty enjoyable. I gotta go to church now. . ." (© Daily Telegraph, London)
- Rosa Prince in New York
Irish Independent
