Clark gets 44-year sentence for killing Yale student Annie Le

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) - Speaking for the first time publicly, Raymond Clark III, the confessed killer of Yale grad student Annie Le, stood in court and said "I'm sorry I took Annie's life."

Clark, a 26-year-old former lab technician from Middletown, was formally sentenced to 44-years behind bars for the woman's death. 

"I alone am responsible for the death of Annie Le, I took a life and continued to lie about it while Annie's friends, family, and fiance sat and waited. I'm sorry for taking Annie Le's life." The family's attorney says the statement failed on one key point.

"They'll never be an answer. Even when Raymond Clark spoke today, while he certainly appeared remorseful, he didn't provide any answers, there was no, uh, no answers to what caused him to do what he did,"

• Read the statements by Raymond Clark, III, his father

At the sentencing hearing the prosecutor told the court we can only speculate motive, but Raymond Clark murdered Annie Le. The prosecutor said when most people will enjoy family, career, vacations, Clark will still be in jail and most of his family will be gone.

About 10 members of the Le family have travelled from Placerville, California. They all wanted to be in the courtroom to see justice done.

• Read the statements from the Le family

Le's mother Vivian Le said "I will never hug Annie again. I see Annie in my dreams. You took away my only daughter, Annie. I will never hold my grandchildren..."

Hoang Le, Annie's father, said "Annie was taken away from us...with her death, we hope her hard work will not go in vain...our pain remains fresh, changing every aspect of life within our family."

Robert Nguyen, Annie's uncle, also spoke in court and read statements from other family members, including one from his wife, who said "this was a premeditated act...Clark should forfeit his life."

Clark's mother was crying as the statements were read.

Raymond Clark's father then addressed the court and the Le family. "Our sincerest sympathies to Le family. Today is one of the saddest days of our lives."

Le's fiance has also never spoken publicly about what he went through. It's not clear if he will address the court, but other members of her family will be making victim impact statements.

Le disappeared in September of 2009. Her body was found stuffed inside a laboratory wall on what would've been her wedding day.

Back in March, Clark plead guilty to murder and attempted sexual assault. A plea deal that meant the victim's family would not have to sit through a trial. The prosecution has said they had overwhelming forensic evidence on Clark.

We are also expecting to hear from Raymond Clark, the first time he's made any public comments about all of this.

Clark's 44-year sentence is without possibility of early release. That means Clark, who is now 26, will be 68 when he's released from prison.

We'll have updates throughout the day on WTNH.com, and full reports on News 8 beginning at 5:00 p.m.