Photos of the Day from the South Jersey Times, Aug. 7, 2013

Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk, right, speaks about the guilty plea entered into court by 16-year-old Justin Robinson, of Clayton, in which Robinson admitted to fatally strangling 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale, of Clayton, on Oct. 20, 2012, during a press conference at the Prosecutor's Office, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. Also pictured is Camden County Chief of Investgators Mark Nicholas. (Staff Photo by Lori M. Nichols/South Jersey Times)

Justin Robinson’s plea agreement all came down to the evidence — or lack thereof.

Robinson, 16, pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated manslaughter after admitting he lured Clayton Middle schooler Autumn Pasquale to his borough home and choked her to death in October.

When he is sentenced in September, Robinson faces 17 years in jail. He’ll be eligible for parole in 14 years, and could be released from jail when he’s 30.

Robinson’s older brother Donte Robinson, who was 17 when he was arrested, was also charged with murder. The brothers were both initially charged in closed juvenile court, where Donte’s charges are still pending. As part of the plea deal, Justin Robinson, who was 15 when he committed the murder, voluntarily waived juvenile court jurisdiction Wednesday.

Lack of forensic evidence was the main factor for reaching the plea agreement.

Autumn’s family never expressed a desire to avoid a trial, according to Doug Long, spokesman for Anthony Pasquale, the girl’s father.

“That wasn’t part of formal discussions in terms of the plea bargain,” Long said Thursday. “The discussions centered around the amount of evidence ... or lack thereof, and really locking down a definitive penalty and definitive punishment.”

Camden Count Prosecutor Warren Faulk said in Wednesday’s press conference that “limited forensic evidence” strongly pointed to the fact Autumn was killed inside the Robinson’s East Clayton Avenue home on Oct. 20.

(LEFT) Image of Donte Robinson, 17, taken from Twitter. (RIGHT) Image of Justin Robinson, 15, taken from Facebook. Both boys have been charged in the murder of Autumn Pasquale in Clayton, NJ.

But with “solely circumstantial” evidence, proving at trial that Justin Robinson was her killer — beyond a reasonable doubt — would have been difficult, Faulk added.

“The ultimate risk is there is an acquittal,” Long said. “At the end of the day, the prosecutor’s burden is to not only prove there was a murder, but this individual is the murderer, and nobody else ... that’s an incredibly difficult mountain to climb, especially with the lack of forensic evidence.”

Already there has been public questioning of the plea agreement.

Sheryl Conti — Autumn’s cheerleading coach and mother to one of the slain middle schooler’s best friends — said Wednesday the community feels like Robinson is “getting away with murder.”

If Robinson had pleaded guilty or was convicted in the juvenile court jurisdiction, he would have faced a maximum jail sentence of 20 years. However, in the juvenile system, he would only have been required to serve one-third of his time — about 7 years.

The nature of the crime — luring the pre-teen to his home, choking her to death and dumping her body in a recycling bin — “demanded Justin Robinson be sentenced as an adult and face adult penalties,” Faulk said.

The prosecutor added the agreement is “fair, equitable and in the interest of justice.”

Autumn’s family hasn’t opposed the agreement, Long said, although the admission of guilt and punishment won’t bring back their “little angel.”

“The ultimate decision on the plea is the prosecutor’s decision," Long said. "The prosecutor was very considerate of the parents and their feelings and thoughts.”

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Contact staff writer Carly Q. Romalino at 856-686-3655 or cromalino@southjerseymedia.com