Guilty plea in nun killing means man spared death penalty

<p>A man who killed his father and then abducted two Catholic nuns pleaded guilty Friday, a deal that spares him the death penalty and acknowledges the church request that he not be put to death.</p><p>The defendant, Adrian O. Robinson, was already serving a life sentence in Virginia, where he took two nuns he'd taken hostage from Christ the King Catholic Church in March of 2003. One of the nuns, 68-year-old Sister Philomena Fogarty, was decapitated. The other nun escaped a motel room in Norfolk, Va., where she was being held and led police to Robinson.</p><p>Robinson, 27, was due to face 19 additional charges in Georgia, including a murder charge for allegedly shooting his father 16 times before setting off to attack the nuns. Family members said Robinson was mentally ill, and they also opposed the death penalty.</p><p>Edward Robinson, the brother of Robinson's slain father, stood in court to address his nephew Friday. "I love you. I forgive you and I want you to know that," he said.</p><p>Father Ronnie Madden, priest in charge at Christ the King Catholic Church, thanked the district attorney's office for accepting the plea without seeking the death penalty.</p><p>"This is a day that hopefully will begin the healing process that is long overdue," Madden said.</p><p>Sister Lucie Kristofik, the surviving nun, is now serving in Rhode Island and did not attend Friday's hearing. Robinson will serve his sentence in Virginia.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cda00c)</p>