Man Pleads Guilty in Camden Torture-Murder

A New Jersey man about to stand trial on murder charges in a case where two victims were tortured, killed and left partially buried in a Camden yard has reached a plea deal with prosecutors.

Twenty-two-year-old Dennis Welch of Camden faces up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to aggravated manslaughter. Camdne County prosecutors say he entered the plea as a jury was being selected to hear his murder case.

Welch admitted beating Michael Hawkins, a 23-year-old Mount Holly resident was attacked and shot in a gang dispute in February 2010.

But he was not charged in the death of Hawkins' girlfriend, 18-year-old Muriah Huff. Prosecutors say Huff was an innocent bystander who was killed to prevent her from identifying the attackers.

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