A man convicted in the murder of an area barbershop owner almost seven years ago has agreed to a life sentence without possibility of parole.
The Daily Local News of West Chester reports the deal came as Chester County jurors were to begin considering whether 35-year-old Eric Coxry should be executed.
Prosecutors agreed Monday not to seek the death penalty if Coxry agreed not to appeal last week's first-degree murder conviction in the October 2006 slaying of 33-year-old Jonas Suber.
Two eyewitnesses identified Coxry as the gunman, according to the paper.
Coxry expressed some ambivalence about acknowledging guilt in the murder. He had testified during the trial that he had nothing to do with the contract killing.
Suber was shot and killed after opening the door of his Coatesville home. Two other men await trial in the slaying.
