after being branded a brutal psychopath.

Psychiatrists said there was no known cure for Leroy Elmer Eugene Burgess, said to be tormented by a troubled childhood.

And they could not rule out the 25-year-old convicted rapist killing again.

Stockily-built Burgess showed no emotion as he was sentenced for manslaughter.

The Supreme Court had heard of Herkommer's horrifying ordeal as she was pushed screaming into a darkened tunnel at the Maritime Museum.

She had her underpants torn off before being choked to death, despite a desperate struggle.

It emerged Burgess had been working unsupervised on a Casemates day release programme, where he could meet girls and take drugs.

And it was also revealed he had often spoken to another prisoner about raping and killing women visiting the Dockyard area.

Mr. Timothy Marshall, Burgess's lawyer, said his client had repeatedly cried for help from society -- but had been ignored.

Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice (Austin) Ward told Burgess he had committed "a brutal and violent'' act.

Herkommer's sister, Christine, who works at a Bermuda jewellery store, was at the back of the court.

The sentence means Burgess will spend 25 years in jail, although he could be considered for parole after 15 years.

Moments earlier, Burgess, bespectacled and wearing a mustard-coloured suit and silk tie, said he was sorry for what he had done.

Speaking in a monotone he said: "I apologise to the people of Bermuda. I apologise to the courts and my family.'' And he added: "I would like to apologise also to the Herkommer family and ask for forgiveness.'' Burgess had admitted manslaughter, and robbing Herkommer of her handbag.

He denied premeditated murder, which could have carried the death sentence.

Solicitor General Mr. Barrie Meade said the Crown would accept Burgess's guilty plea to manslaughter with diminished responsibility.

The decision was based on psychiatric reports on Burgess, he explained.

Mr. Meade outlined events leading up to Herkommer's death on April 15, last year.

He said the 27-year-old schoolteacher from Baden-Wurtemburg had come to Bermuda to visit her sister, Christine.

She caught a ferry to the naval dockyard in Sandys Parish, arriving at about 11.30 a.m.

Mr. Meade said Herkommer was approached by Burgess, who offered to show her around the museum's grounds.

He then suggested she accompany him through a disused service tunnel to see one of the barracks.

"Burgess had spoken with his friend Maurice Burrows, also a work release prisoner, on a number of occasions about raping and killing females who he saw visiting the dockyard areas,'' said Mr. Meade.

He added: "On the day of the attack on Miss Herkommer, Burgess pointed her out to Burrows and stated words to the effect of `see that girl there, she's by herself, I am going to see her'.

"While in the darkened tunnel Burgess attacked Miss Herkommer, a struggle ensued during which the defendant managed to rip off Miss Herkommer's underpants.'' Burgess punched Herkommer in the face, and during the struggle she was badly cut on her left ear. He also placed his hands on her throat and choked her.

He then picked up her handbag and left the area, later putting her empty wallet in a used milk carton and throwing it in the garbage.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Keith Cunningham believed choking was the most likely cause of death, said Mr. Meade.

Mr. Meade added Burgess also described in his own words events leading up to his crime.

After pushing Herkommer into the tunnel her spectacles fell off. He picked them up and put them back on her face.

"Miss Herkommer began to scream and Burgess placed his hand over her mouth and holding her in front of him forced Miss Herkommer down the steps, further into the tunnel.'' During the struggle she fell and banged her head hard against the wall of the tunnel.

Mr. Meade said Burgess stated he gave chase after Herkommer tried to run off.

She fell and he landed on top of her.

"When she began to struggle Burgess stated that he punched her and began to choke her.

"At this point Miss Herkommer managed to escape his grasp but he once again caught her and fell on top of her, holding her by the neck as she began to scream.

"Burgess stated that he lifted up Miss Herkommer's dress and with one hand ripped off her underwear and unfastened his trousers.

"Miss Herkommer began to plead that she could not breathe and Burgess released a hold of her throat.

"At this point Burgess stated that he heard the voices of tourists outside the tunnel and Miss Herkommer began to scream again.

"Burgess recounts having one hand over Miss Herkommer's mouth, and the other hand in her vaginal area.'' Mr. Meade said Burgess recalled grabbing Herkommer by the hair and banging her head on the ground and telling her to "shut up''.

As she tried to run off, he pushed her to the ground, placed his knee on her chest and choked her with his hands. He "squeezed her throat a little tighter and tighter'' until she stopped moving.

Mr. Meade said Police discovered her body two days later.

Burgess told Police he had information about Herkommer's death, and had found a bag at Dockyard.

"He was questioned as to the death of Miss Herkommer, but initially denied any knowledge of it,'' said Mr. Meade.

Later, however, Burgess confessed to murder. But then he claimed his mind blanked out over what had happened.

Asked by Police why he had attacked Herkommer, he replied: "For no reason I could explain. I figured she had money in her bag.'' He said he had gained the woman's trust, encouraging her to enter the tunnel by saying there was a light switch inside.

And he admitted the thought of having sex with her had crossed his mind.

He also revealed he had tried to tie her up, and stifle her screams with a knapkin.

Mr. Meade said Burgess had been seen three times by Dr. Richard Lament, a consultant psychiatrist at St. Brendan's Hospital.

He said Dr. Lament had concluded Burgess's motive had been theft of the handbag, rather than sex.

"Dr. Lament acknowledges Burgess has had a lifelong tendency to attack others in a sudden and explosive fashion, not actually feeling anger, but rather as Burgess describes it a `veil comes over my eyes and then the person is on the ground'.'' Mr. Meade said Dr. Lament noted Burgess had shown no remorse for any of his many crimes.

Burgess, abused by his father as a child and raised in foster homes after his parents divorced, had been described by another psychiatrist as "a cold, dangerous, remorseless individual with a psychopathic personality'', added Mr.

Meade.

While choking Herkommer he allegedly pictured his father abusing his mother.

Mr. Meade said Burgess was allowed on a work release programme because of improved behaviour over the last two years. His release from prison was imminent.

JAILED FOR LIFE -- Leroy Burgess pictured before being sentenced in Supreme Court. He was branded a brutal psycopath who `could kill again'.

VICTIM -- German holidaymaker Antje Herkommer.