Surprise Guilty Plea During Western MN Murder Trial

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A 19-year-old man changed his mind and has decided to plead guilty to killing a friend's grandmother.

The Star Tribune reports testimony in the trial of Brok Junkermeier's was set to resume Wednesday afternoon, but instead he ended up pleading guilty to one charge of first-degree, premeditated murder in Kandiyohi County.

The jury on Tuesday watched Junkermeier's taped confession to killing 79-year-old church volunteer Lila Warwick after forcing her to write him a check for $1,500 last July near Willmar.

Junkermeier admitted to the crime and wanted to plead guilty to keep "the families from having to listen to more of the evidence."

He's accused of carrying out the crime with Warwick's grandson, Robert Warwick, now 18. Robert Warwick's trial is not yet scheduled.