By Billy Davis

A pool of potential jurors witnessed a Panola County man plead guilty to a single charge of manslaughter Monday in front of Circuit Judge Andrew C. Baker.

Glenn Cardwell, 43, stood accused of stabbing to death Raymond Murphy at Murphy’s home located in the Cole’s Point community.

The alleged incident took place on March 15, 2008.

Murphy, who was 49, died from a single stab wound. His family was present Monday for the court procedures.

A sentencing date for Cardwell was not set.

“I’m going to leave you on bond,” Baker told Cardwell, who was already free on bond for the trial.

Assistant District Attorney Jay Hale presented the state’s case against Cardwell.

Batesville attorney Helen Kelly was defending Cardwell.

A jury had yet to be seated when Cardwell entered his guilty plea at about 10:45 a.m. 

A conviction for manslaughter ranges from a maximum 20-year sentence in state prison, with a minimum sentence of two years, or a maximum of one year in jail.

“The plea offer (for manslaughter) was for the prison time, not the county jail,” said Hale.