AUBURN - Bradley Laning took a kitchen knife from his grandmother's home and used it to stab Andrea Kell to death, he admitted in Cayuga County Court Thursday.
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Bradley Laning is led to the courtroom by sheriff's deputies for his court appearance last week. On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Bradley Laning is led to the courtroom by sheriff's deputies for his court appearance last week. On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
On March 31, the adolescent couple went for a walk at Cayuga Community College's nature trail to discuss their relationship of two years. While on the trail, Laning stabbed Kell several times.
Laning showed his first and only sign of emotion in the proceeding when Judge Peter Corning asked him to describe what he did to Kell.
Laning emitted a sob as he admitted he killed his 17-year-old romantic partner after arguing with her.
"I was angry she had cheated on me. I just lost control and stabbed her," Laning said. Laning pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder.
"Only Andrea really knows what they were arguing about. Only Andrea knows for certain, and she's not with us any longer," District Attorney James Vargason said.
Laning's attorney, Simon Moody, had explored an extreme emotional disturbance defense, but the defense did not pan out because of two factors, Moody said: Laning brought a knife to the scene of Kell's murder, and police found a note written by Laning saying that if he couldn't have Kell no one could.
That day, Kell and Laning went from his grandmother's house to Hoopes Park and then to the nature trail. Laning drove Kell's stepfather's car to the police station to turn himself in after killing her.
"Brad was tearful in court upon his plea," Moody said. "He has recognized what he has done. He wishes beyond hope that he could take it back."
Vargason said two experts had determined that an extreme emotional disturbance defense did not apply to Laning.
"The defendant had a long history of poor impulse control," Vargason said. "There was absolutely no evidence that he had ever been psychotic and he had never been on psychotropic medications. The defendant had a history of seeing therapists for the purpose of anger management problems."
Vargason said he was prepared to enter evidence that Laning had threatened to kill Kell the day before the murder and had long been verbally abusive.
Moody said he hopes Corning will show Laning some leniency because he has spared Kell's family the trauma and grief of a protracted jury trial. He also hopes Laning's own dysfunctional upbringing in foster homes will be a factor in the judge's sentencing. Corning said in court he would not make any sentencing promises.
Laning faces a minimum of 15 to 25 years and a maximum of life imprisonment at his Sept. 9 sentencing.
Kell's family was not in attendance Thursday because Laning's case was scheduled for motion arguments, but Laning then decided to enter a guilty plea.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Laning showed his first and only sign of emotion in the proceeding when Judge Peter Corning asked him to describe what he did to Kell.
Laning emitted a sob as he admitted he killed his 17-year-old romantic partner after arguing with her.
"I was angry she had cheated on me. I just lost control and stabbed her," Laning said. Laning pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder.
"Only Andrea really knows what they were arguing about. Only Andrea knows for certain, and she's not with us any longer," District Attorney James Vargason said.
Laning's attorney, Simon Moody, had explored an extreme emotional disturbance defense, but the defense did not pan out because of two factors, Moody said: Laning brought a knife to the scene of Kell's murder, and police found a note written by Laning saying that if he couldn't have Kell no one could.
That day, Kell and Laning went from his grandmother's house to Hoopes Park and then to the nature trail. Laning drove Kell's stepfather's car to the police station to turn himself in after killing her.
"Brad was tearful in court upon his plea," Moody said. "He has recognized what he has done. He wishes beyond hope that he could take it back."
Vargason said two experts had determined that an extreme emotional disturbance defense did not apply to Laning.
"The defendant had a long history of poor impulse control," Vargason said. "There was absolutely no evidence that he had ever been psychotic and he had never been on psychotropic medications. The defendant had a history of seeing therapists for the purpose of anger management problems."
Vargason said he was prepared to enter evidence that Laning had threatened to kill Kell the day before the murder and had long been verbally abusive.
Moody said he hopes Corning will show Laning some leniency because he has spared Kell's family the trauma and grief of a protracted jury trial. He also hopes Laning's own dysfunctional upbringing in foster homes will be a factor in the judge's sentencing. Corning said in court he would not make any sentencing promises.
Laning faces a minimum of 15 to 25 years and a maximum of life imprisonment at his Sept. 9 sentencing.
Kell's family was not in attendance Thursday because Laning's case was scheduled for motion arguments, but Laning then decided to enter a guilty plea.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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