Former state lawmaker Steve Nunn pleaded guilty to murder with aggravating circumstances in the 2009 death of Amanda Ross in Lexington.
Nunn, who was set to go on trial in August, entered the plea Tuesday morning in Fayette Circuit Court.
He waived formal sentencing and Judge Pamela Goodwine sentenced Nunn to life without parole. He also was given 12 months for violating a domestic violence order of protection. That sentence is to run concurrently.
When Goodwine asked Nunn if he was guilty of the charges Nunn said "yes ma'am" in a quiet voice.
Afterward, Nunn's attorneys, Warren Scoville said first-degree manslaughter was the best case scenario and with that charge he would have still spent the rest of his life in prison.
