A New Kensington man yesterday pleaded guilty to homicide and other charges related to a 2008 stabbing death, thereby avoiding trial and a possible life sentence.

Shaun Raisor, 23, had been charged in the death of 21-year-old Bryan Akers, of Etna. In exchange for the guilty plea, the district attorney's office agreed to a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison, which Allegheny County Judge Joseph Williams III imposed.

Etna police learned of the slaying after the victim's mother went to them to file a missing person's report, stating that his silver pickup had been found burned in Plum.

Police said Mr. Raisor confessed to stabbing the victim on June 21, after the two men got into a fight at the former Atlas Cement Plant in Penn Hills. He later led police to a hole filled with dried concrete debris where he had concealed Mr. Akers' body. After the killing, Mr. Raisor drove the victim's truck to Plum and ignited it.

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