Sentencing for San Diego killer advanced

SAN DIEGO, April 28 (UPI) -- Sentencing of a man convicted of raping and killing San Diego teenagers Chelsea King and Amber Dubois has been moved up from June 1 to May 14, officials say.

To avoid the death penalty, John Gardner, 31, pleaded guilty on April 16 to both killings and also admitted to assaulting a jogger with the intention of raping her Dec. 27, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday.

San Diego County District Attorney spokesman Paul Levikow said both the prosecution and defense agreed to move up the sentencing hearing but he didn't know the reason for the move.

Moe Dubois, father of Amber, said the new date was requested by the District Attorney's Office, which spoke to Moe and the King family, the newspaper said.

"We told them the sooner the better," Dubois said.

Brent and Kelly King, Chelsea's parents, were told about the change in the date of the sentencing and were in agreement, spokeswoman Sara Fraunces said.

"They want to get this chapter closed and focus on healing, focus on their son and focus on the changes they are fighting for," Fraunces said.