Killer gets no sympathy from daughter of victim

Angela Soo

Tuesday, May 15, 2001 | 9:15 a.m.

Facing her mother's killer in court during a sentencing hearing Monday, Deborah Parks didn't allow Termaine Lytle to mistake who the real victim was.

"No words describe what you put us through," Parks said. "You're in a hole, too bad."

Lytle had already accepted, in a plea agreement, two no-parole life terms for the July 1997 strangulation death of Selma Adelman, 84.

District Judge Donald Mosley had to decide Monday only what sentences Lytle should receive for a multitude of other crimes and if they should be served one after the other or at the same time.

The agreement on the murder charge was reached after a jury could not decide if Lytle should be sentenced to death. Lytle took the deal instead of facing a three-judge panel, which typically renders death sentences.

On Monday Lytle listed grievances he felt were substantial enough to postpone his sentencing: He said he was coerced into signing the plea agreement, there were errors in his pre-sentencing investigation, he wasn't able to reach his defense attorneys while in solitary confinement and he did not receive trial transcripts he had requested.

Lytle said he was innocent and the only reason he pleaded guilty was to spare the victim's family and his own.

Neither Mosley nor Parks were persuaded by Lytle's words.

"I don't think when you murdered my mother you took a lot of time to think about what you were doing to my mother," Parks said. "There are no words to describe what you put us through."

Although the ordeal took four years, Parks told Lytle she is pleased with the outcome.

"What I've learned and what I believe is the system does work, and even though I have to listen to you ramble on, justice will be served," Parks said.

Parks discovered her mother's body several days after Lytle and Robert Walker walked into her apartment through an unlocked sliding glass door and smothered and strangled her.

Walker entered a plea agreement and is serving a 20-year to life sentence.

Mosley ordered Lytle to serve two, 5-year-to-life sentences for kidnapping after the murder sentence. He also said Lytle must serve a minimum of 21 years or burglary, conspiracy and forgery following those sentences.