Clark pleads guilty to Le murder

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - Raymond Clark III pleaded guilty Thursday to murdering Yale graduate student Annie Le.

Clark pleaded guilty to murder and attempted sexual assault. In a plea deal with prosecutors, he faces a 44-year prison sentence for the crimes.

Le was a 3rd-year doctoral student in pharmacology from Placerville, California. Her body was found stuffed in a wall in the basement of a Yale laboratory building in September of 2009. She was found with her panties pulled down. Her jaw and collarbone had been broken, and her body was covered by insulation. The medical examiner ruled that she had been strangled to death.

Le's body was found on the day she was to be married.

Clark, 26, of Middletown, initially pleaded not guilty to murder and felony murder which if convicted, carried the possibility of the death penalty.

Speaking outside of court after the plea, Ray Clark 's father said his son feels remorse for killing Le. Click here to read his statement

Le's family had earlier released a statement saying that they are relieved to hear about the guilty plea and glad that they will not have to go through a lengthy trial. They were not at today's proceedings but are expected to be present for Clark's sentencing, which is tentatively set for May 20th.

"Nothing that happens here today will bring Annie back to that family but justice has been served today," says Joseph Tacopina,  Le's mother's Lawyer.