Man admits Christmas Eve killings

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RICHMOND, Va., May 9 (UPI) -- A Virginia man who confessed to killing two men during a bungled robbery after police brought him a chicken dinner entered a guilty plea Wednesday.

Jamal Clemons, 27, of Richmond faces a sentence of 40 years to life in prison, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

A judge refused Monday to bar Clemons' confession from being used as evidence.

Clemons told police he was drunk and high on crack when he shot Robin Clapp, 56, and Edward Bowmer Jr., 60, at Bowmer's home on Christmas Eve. He said he thought Bowmer had money in a safe but it turned out to be empty.

Clemons' mother, Robin Mines, came to the home while he was there but left on his orders. She is scheduled to go on trial in June on a first-degree murder charge.

After another woman who was a friend of Clapp, came to the house, Clemons escaped in her car with her 2-year-old son in the back seat. Police found the vehicle and the unharmed child in a cemetery about 6 hours later.

During his confession, Clemons said he deserved execution. He was not charged with capital murder.

"If you take a person life, man, the Bible say your life should be took," Clemons said. "Eye for a eye. Tooth for a tooth. That was in the beginning. Know what I'm saying?"