Trial to open for man accused of beating girlfriend to death

YORK, Pa. (AP) - Trial opens Monday in central Pennsylvania for a man accused of having beaten his girlfriend to death last year.

The York Daily Record (https://bit.ly/1NWI947 ) reports that 24-year-old Jermaine Taylor could face life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder. York County prosecutors aren’t seeking the death penalty in the case.

Police said they were called to a York home in February 2014 and Taylor told them that 34-year-old Billie Jo Bratton had died of a drug overdose. But they said an autopsy indicated that the victim had died of blunt force trauma with a brain hemorrhage.

Authorities allege in court documents that Taylor later told detectives “If I did it, I didn’t mean to.”

Police said there was a history of domestic violence in the relationship.

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Information from: York Daily Record, https://www.ydr.com