“Today marks the end of a tragic case that shook our community,” District Attorney George Gascon told a news conference. “The senseless act not only affected the Jacqueline Avant family, but the whole community.
Ariel Manner pleaded guilty last month to first-degree murder, attempted murder and several other charges, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office. Manner broke into the Avant home in Beverly Hills on December 1, 2021 and fatally shot the 81-year-old, the statement said. He also shot at her bodyguard, but the guard was not injured, the statement said.
Manner is not eligible for parole and will spend the rest of his life in prison, Gascon said.
CNN asked Manner’s lawyer for comment on the verdict.
Gascon said he thought the sentence was appropriate given the circumstances, as he claimed that Manner had made a series of phone calls to the prison, which demonstrated “no remorse” and which were “very disturbing in nature”.
“Our office is and will continue to be held accountable for those who cause serious harm in our community. This is especially true in cases where people show little or no remorse, “he said.
According to Gascon, Manner has been in and out of the criminal justice system since he was 12 years old.
Gascon said this is an example of why better support systems are needed for those who often interact with law enforcement.
“We need to ensure that we provide the resources needed for treatment, support both inside and outside prison systems, and that we facilitate re-entry in a way that would make us all safer,” he said. “We need to do this not because we want to hug those who have committed crimes or caused harm, but because it is necessary for the safety of our community.
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