New Hampshire man asking to have murder sentence suspended

Published April 21, 2016

A New Hampshire man who got away with murder for 20 years is trying to get his sentence reduced to the 10 years he already has served.

Eric Windhurst was 17 when he fatally shot a friend's stepfather, Danny Paquette, in 1985 after the friend told him that Paquette had sexually abused her.

The now 48-year-old Windhurst pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2006 and was sentenced to 15 to 36 years in prison. He has petitioned to have the balance of his sentence suspended. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Paquette's stepdaughter, Melanie Cooper, provided information leading to Windhurst's arrest in 2005. She served a 15-month sentence for hindering apprehension.

Windhurst's lawyer says Cooper manipulated him into killing Paquette. Cooper has declined to comment.

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-hampshire-man-asking-to-have-murder-sentence-suspended