NORTHRIDGE : 2nd Teen-Ager Sentenced in Killing

A second teen-ager convicted of killing a Northridge woman last year at Zuma Beach was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years to life in state prison.

Michael Loretto, 18, was sentenced by Santa Monica Superior Court Judge David Perez in the stabbing death of Jacqueline Kirkham, 43, at the Malibu beach May 28, 1991.

On Monday, a co-defendant, Guillermo Bustos, also 18, was sentenced to life without possibility of parole after being found guilty in October of stabbing Kirkham while she was in a women’s restroom. Loretto did not stab her, but had followed her into the restroom, hit her in the face and knocked her down.

The two teen-agers, along with a third youth who was not charged, had planned to steal her car so they could return to their hometown of Pojoaque, N.M., according to trial testimony. Perez gave Loretto 23 months credit for time served and good behavior.

Bustos, Loretto and the third youth came to Los Angeles after being sought in a bar burglary in New Mexico. Addressing Perez, Loretto said: “No matter what I say, it won’t change the past. I made a mistake . . . but my life has meaning for me because of my family and friends. I pray for mercy from the court and my prayers go out to Mrs. Kirkham’s family.”