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Kensington Man Will Go To Trial For Murder Of 95-Year-Old Neighbor

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A man has been ordered to stand trial on charges he murdered a 95-year-old woman in their Kensington neighborhood during an attempted sexual assault earlier this year.

A homicide detective says defendant Tito DeJesus, 42, confessed he took groceries to the victim's house earlier in the day but later returned and attacked.

"Based on his statement, he was drunk and high on cocaine and he decided to make his way into Miss Sanders house," Prosecutor Nick Liermann said. "At which point he attempted to sexually assault her, told her to take off her pants, and when she refused he beat her, knocked her unconscious and left her there to die."

Alice Sanders, affectionately known as "mamma jamma", suffered severe head injuries and died about a month later.

The defense attorney is challenging the confession and says DeJesus will plead not guilty.

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