California IN BRIEF : MARTINEZ : Youth Sentenced in Killing for Pager

A 15-year-old youth, who police say killed a friend so he could take the victim’s telephone pager, has been sentenced to spend a decade in the California Youth Authority. Juvenile Court Judge John Minney, in handing down the sentence Friday, said the authority is the only appropriate place for Manuel Walker, who the judge said has a history of violence. “The minor engaged in a brutal, cowardly killing involving an apparently defenseless victim,” Minney said. “It appears he has no sense of accountability or responsibility for what he’s done.” Walker, who turns 16 next month, was convicted of first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Ricky Martinelli last March. Authorities said Walker can be held until age 25.