
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994                   TAG: 9406050075
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                                LENGTH: Short

CIGARETTE HELPS TO CONVICT KILLER

A capital murder suspect's smoking habit proved to be his downfall as investigators found that DNA from the saliva on one of his cigarettes matched that of seminal fluid from the crime scene.

Willie L. Irving Jr. puffed on a cigarette as he told police he did not rape and strangle Robyn Williams in her apartment last September. The police arrested him after authorities took the cigarette butt and ran genetic tests on it and fluid taken from the woman's body the night of the slaying.

Irving, 30, pleaded guilty Friday in Circuit Court to charges of capital murder and rape. He originally was to stand trial Monday.

"It was really very clever work on behalf of the police department," Commonwealth's Attorney David Williams said.

The woman's body was found by her brother-in-law after she failed to show up for a college class.

The prosecutor is not seeking the death penalty for Irving. Williams said Irving was charged with capital murder to keep him in prison longer before he can be considered for parole. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17.

by CNB