Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Sal Lake City, UT: Man pleads guilty in girlfriend's 2007 death


Associated Press - September 1, 2009 5:45 PM ET

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend in 2007.

Prosecutors dismissed a charge of aggravated sexual assault against 21-year-old Parley Jeffs Dutson on Tuesday as part of a plea bargain.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported on its Web site Tuesday that Dutson will be sentenced Dec. 9 in 3rd District Court.

Dutson had been convicted in July 2008 of fatally shooting his girlfriend, 15-year-old Kara Hopkins, in the back of the head during a party at a West Jordan apartment in April 2007. He also was convicted of aggravated sexual assault.

But in May a judge ordered a new trial for Dutson because a juror didn't tell the court she was raped as a teenager.

Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com

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