Suspect's '86 robbery bears similarity to Lily Burk case

Charles Samuel, the parolee accused of killing Lily Burk, was convicted 22 years ago of another violent robbery that bore a striking similarity to last month's abduction and slaying of the high school senior in downtown Los Angeles, according to court records reviewed by The Times.

As in the Burk case, Samuel was accused of kidnapping someone -- this time an elderly man -- and driving in the man's car to an ATM, where he demanded that the man withdraw cash.

When no money appeared, Samuel struck the man using the victim's wooden cane, punched him in the stomach and threatened to kill him if he reported the crime to police, court records show.

Samuel pleaded guilty in June 1987 to robbery, residential burglary and car theft in connection with the attack, which took place in San Bernardino.

During an interview with a probation officer before his sentencing, Samuel gave what appeared to be conflicting accounts about that night, according to a probation report that a judge unsealed Tuesday in response to a request from The Times.

Samuel said he was intoxicated and didn't recall the events of that night but also complained that he "had not gotten justice," alleging that the incident involved a dispute over a mutual girlfriend.

At one point Samuel tried to cast doubt on the allegations.

"If I had beat him like they said, I should have killed him," he told the probation officer.

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