Surprise Plea Ends Murder Trial Before it Starts

There will be no trial for a Chenango County man accused of beating his ex-girlfriend to death in Norwich in 2013.

The jury was seated and ready to hear testimony in the murder trial of 49 year old William Danielson of Oxford September 30 when he suddenly pleaded guilty to second degree murder in a deal that has all other charges in the death of Lucinda Knoll dropped.

The 39 year old mother of three was beaten to death during a robbery at her home.

Prosecutors claimed Danielson had robbed the woman to try to draw attention to a possible robbery suspect other than him in an attempt to get sole custody of a child he had with Knoll.

Danielson will be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.