
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 4, 1994                    TAG: 9406040275 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: D4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY ROBERT GUY MATTHEWS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940604                                 LENGTH: CHESAPEAKE

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SEPT. 4 MURDER, RAPE OF WOMAN\

{LEAD} Willie Leon Irving Jr. puffed on a cigarette when he told police that he did not rape and strangle a woman in her apartment. But the cigarette butt he left in the ashtray betrayed him.

Police tested the saliva Irving left on the butt and found that it matched DNA from seminal fluid taken from the woman's body the night of the slaying. Irving was arrested and charged with the Sept. 4 crime.

{REST} But it wasn't until Friday in Circuit Court that Irving, 30, admitted his guilt.

``It was really very clever work on behalf of the Police Department,'' Commonwealth's Attorney David Williams said.

Robyn Williams' body was found by her brother-in-law after she failed to show up for a college class. Trapped inside the apartment with the body was her 3-year-old son. He was looking at a book when police found him, nearly eight hours after the crime.

Irving originally was scheduled to stand trial, beginning Monday. But at the 11th hour, he decided to plead guilty to capital murder and rape.

Irving will not have to face the death penalty as in most capital murder cases. Williams said Irving was charged with capital murder to keep him in prison longer before he can be considered for parole.

With first-degree murder, Irving would be eligible for, but not guaranteed, parole in 15 years. Parole for capital murder would not be considered until after 25 years.

``We wanted to punish him as hard as we could,'' Williams said.

A judge will sentence Irving Aug 17.

{KEYWORDS} MURDER CONVICTION

by CNB