A handyman has been sentenced to prison for the fatal beating of a neighbor of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
Edward Gause, 45, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the November 2010 slaying of 76-year-old Robert Lancaster Sr. Lancaster had hired Gause to do work on his home in the city's Wynnefield section, down the street from Nutter's house.
The retired insurance agent and real estate broker's death was ruled suspicious because Lancaster appeared to have been beaten. His face was covered with a pillow when he was found but once it was removed it appeared his face was badly beaten, detectives said.
Under a plea agreement, Gause is being sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison. He apologized to Lancaster's family in court Wednesday.
Lancaster was found fatally beaten in his bed. Defense attorney Fred Goodman says Gause had a drug habit and had decided to rob Lancaster. He says Gause was angry about a pay dispute for work he did.
Gause was arrested in June 2011 at a shelter in Upper Darby.
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