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Urbana man who killed son pleads guilty to 2nd-degree murder

Posted February 26, 2017 6:00 am

The Associated Press

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - A central Illinois man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his son.

Sixty-seven-year-old David Farrell of Urbana entered the guilty plea Friday in the death of 29-year-old Matthew Farrell. Authorities say the June 12 shooting occurred at the family home during a second angry encounter between the two men that day.

Champaign County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Larson said he agreed to the guilty plea because two witnesses were prepared to testify that Matthew Farrell struck his father during an argument about three hours before the shooting. He says both men had been drinking.

Farrell is to be sentenced April 10.

Larson said he will seek a 20-year prison sentence for Farrell. Defense lawyer George Vargas said he intends to ask for probation for Farrell.

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com

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