A Duquesne man pleaded guilty to third-degree murder yesterday in a 2003 homicide in Mellon Square.

Marvin Harpool, 24, pleaded guilty in the death of Michael Hixson, 38, of McKeesport on Sept. 12, 2003.

Mr. Harpool was 17 at the time of the stabbing death and told Senior Common Pleas Judge John K. Reilly yesterday that he didn't mean for the slaying to happen, "for real, for real."

Judge Reilly sentenced Mr. Harpool to seven to 15 years in prison with credit for the four years he has already served.

Mr. Harpool had previously testified that one of his co-defendants stabbed the victim, while the other co-defendant kicked and punched the victim.

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