A Three Rivers man has pled guilty to murder in connection to a May incident over the sale of a motorcycle.
Mohammad Abuhaltam, 21, appeared last week in a video conference before St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman.
During the 13-minute proceeding, Abuhaltam pled guilty to second-degree murder. The charge stems from a May 21 incident in which Abuhaltam stabbed to death 59-year-old James May Sr., of Three Rivers.
Abuhaltam is to be sentenced Sept. 25.
Recounting the fatal incident, Abuhaltam said he purchased a motorcycle from May. He said he returned to May’s Middle Street residence later and confronted him over the fact the motorcycle did not work.
The situation grew tense, Abuhaltam said, and in the heat of arguing, he grabbed one of the knives in May’s home, stabbed May in the chest and left the residence.