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90-year-old funeral home director who killed friend gets 6-12 year sentence

HOMESTEAD, Pa. — A 90-year-old funeral home director will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
 
On Thursday, William Welsh was sentenced to six to 12 years in jail for shooting and killing his longtime employee William Menni, 58.
 
"I'm very sorry.  It's a tough day for both families," said Homestead Mayor Betty Esper.
 
Esper isn't one to show a lot of emotion, but on Thursday she wore her heart on her sleeve as she talked about what's ahead for her lifelong friend headed to prison.
 
"I think the judge was fair.  I think he did what he had to do," she said.
 
The shooting happened outside the funeral home a year ago.
 
Welsh was found guilty of third-degree murder for shooting Menni in the back of the head following an ongoing dispute over demolition work on a house next door.
 
Menni was an embalmer at the funeral home, and the men had known each other for decades.
 
Menni's family members left court without publicly speaking, but they made it clear throughout the trial that they wanted justice.

WPXI

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