Man accused in killing of Canadian backpacker, yoga teacher pleads guilty

One of three young transients accused of killing a Canadian who was camping during a music festival and a yoga teacher who was walking a dog pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the instructor's death on Monday.

Sean Michael Angold, 24, struck a plea deal with prosecutors and agreed to testify against his two travelling companions who are each charged with first-degree murder and related counts.

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In exchange, prosecutors dropped two first-degree murder charges that could have kept him in prison for life if convicted. Angold will be sentenced to 15-years-to-life in prison, his attorney Terry Bennett said.

A spokesman for the Marin County prosecutor declined to discuss the specifics of Angold's deal.

Angold was arrested in October with Morrison Haze Lampley, 23, and Lila Alligood, 18.

They were charged with shooting and killing Audrey Carey, a 23-year backpacker from Quebec, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park during the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival. Carey's body was found Oct. 3, 2015.

Lampley is the accused triggerman, and investigators allege he used a gun stolen from an unlocked car in San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf neighbourhood.

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Lampley is also accused of using the same gun to shoot and kill Steve Carter, a popular 67-year-old tantra yoga instructor two days later in Marin County, north of San Francisco. Carter was slain while walking his dog, which was also shot. The dog recovered.

The three were arrested outside a soup kitchen in Portland, Ore.

Investigators and the criminal complaint say they were found with the stolen gun, Carter's Volkswagen station wagon and Carey's tent, sleeping bag, day pack, passport and airline tickets.

Lampley and Alligood have pleaded not guilty to two first-degree murder charges and counts of robbery and animal cruelty. They face life in prison if convicted.