Sailor Pleads Guilty in Death of Gay Shipmate

An American sailor charged with killing a homosexual shipmate pleaded guilty to murder today in a U.S. military court but said the killing was not premeditated--a move that could spare his life.

Airman Apprentice Terry M. Helvey, 21, of Westland, Mich., entered the plea at a pretrial hearing for a Navy court-martial set to begin June 1.

He was arrested after the body of 22-year-old Allen Schindler was found in a pool of blood last October in a public restroom in Sasebo in southern Japan.

Schindler was so badly battered that his mother had to identify him by tattoos on his arm.

Helvey and Schindler were shipmates on the amphibious assault ship Belleau Wood, based in Sasebo.

Helvey is charged with premeditated murder, which carries a maximum penalty of death.

But he pleaded guilty to committing murder with intent to inflict great bodily harm. That would make the killing unpremeditated and result in a maximum sentence of life in prison and a dishonorable discharge.

The judge, Cmdr. David P. Holcombe, did not immediately rule on the plea, and it was not clear whether the court would accept it before the next pretrial hearing, set for May 24, or pursue its original charge.

During the hourlong hearing, Helvey also pleaded guilty to charges of assault on two Navy shore patrolmen and to giving two false official statements.