PEORIA, Ill., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- An Illinois judge refused to let an accused serial killer plead guilty in the deaths of two women, the Peoria (Ill.) Journal-Star reported Friday.
At a hearing Thursday the judge read Larry Bright the charges, four counts of first-degree murder in the choking deaths of Linda Neal, 40, and Brenda Erving, 41, both of Peoria, and then asked Bright if he understood the charges.
"I really want to plead guilty," Bright said.
However, the judge declined to accept his plea.
"I understand, but today is not the day to do that. Your rights are going to be protected. We are acting in your best interests," the judge replied.
Three weeks ago Bright tried to plead guilty to killing Neal, but that plea also was refused.
Bright, 38, has confessed to killing up to eight women, police say. Authorities believe he went on a 15-month killing spree in 2003 that ended with eight victims, all of whom were black and all of whom had ties to drugs and prostitution.
Detectives do not believe Bright, who is white, was motivated by race.
