Montco Man Pleads Guilty To Killing Rival With Baseball Bat
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Hatboro, Pa. man has admitted in Montgomery County Court that he beat another man to death with a baseball bat earlier this year in a jealous rage over a woman.
Thomas Bellezza (above) pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of crime stemming from the February 9th incident.
Bellezza, 51, admitted that he struck 53-year-old Robert Masten of Horsham.
Montgomery County prosecutor Rebecca Strubel says she plans to seek a state sentence for Bellezza.
"While this was not intentional homicide, it was not a justifiable case of self-defense," she said on Monday. "At some point the defendant did have an opportunity and a duty to retreat from the fight -- which he didn't."
Strubel says Bellezza did call for help after striking Masten. He faces a maximum of 7½ to 15 years behind bars.
The defense attorney is expected to ask for a county sentence, claiming his client is remorseful over what happened that day.
Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060.
