If convicted of murder, he would have faced 25 years to life in prison; under the manslaughter plea, he will be sentenced to 8 1/3 to 25 years.

To set aside the obvious questions, Howard helped insert near the front of the book a short description of Lerner's reluctant manslaughter plea.

He'd have copped a manslaughter plea.

The state had accepted his manslaughter plea rather than go through the uncertainty and expense of a capital murder trial.

If the D.A. 's smart, he'll let her take a manslaughter plea.

The two faced a maximum of 10 years each on their manslaughter pleas.

In exchange for Mr. Connaghan's manslaughter plea, the state dropped a charge that he had violated a state law against booby traps.

Mr. Brensic is free, awaiting sentencing on the manslaughter plea.

The prosecutor, on record as saying Mr. Caruso should face the first-degree murder charge again in the second trial, also did a turnabout, agreeing to the manslaughter plea.

Dianne Tucker has been released from prison but has given up all rights to appeal her manslaughter plea.