Pa. Man Sentenced in Love Triangle Murder

The Daily Local News of West Chester says 24-year-old Stephen Shappell of Newtown Square pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the June 2010 death of Kevin Mengel

A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 40-80 years in prison in the murder of the husband of a woman with whom he was having an affair.

Stephen Shappell, 24, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in Chester County Court in the June 2010 death of Kevin Mengel.

According to The Daily Local News of West Chester, Chief Deputy District Attorney Patrick Carmody said "I have tried not to give [Shappell] any false hopes". He told Senior Judge Thomas Gavin that "[Shappell] will die in prison".

Morgan Mengel, the Philadelphia woman with whom Shappell was having the affair, was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to having plotted her husband Kevin's death more than two years ago.

The Daily Local News of West Chester says 37-year-old Mengel of West Chester pleaded guilty Feb. 5 to first-degree murder, conspiracy and related charges.

Prosecutors said her lover beat the victim to death with a shovel after Mengel unsuccessfully tried to poison him. They also said that Mengel manipulated Shappell into going through with the act.

Carmody took issue with the portrayal of the case as a love triangle, saying "you can't have a love triangle if the woman only loves herself."

Shappell apologized twice Monday, telling Mengel's relatives that he will never forgive himself and "should not be forgiven", according to The Daily Local News of West Chester.

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