Man Pleads Not Guilty in Beating Death of Grandfather

Incident unfolded during a home invasion in Providence

A Woonsocket, Rhode Island, man has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in connection with the beating death of a 78-year-old grandfather during a home invasion in Providence.

The Providence Journal reports that 34-year-old Leopoldo Belen entered the pleas Thursday in Providence Superior Court.

A grand jury indicted Belen on first-degree murder and a dozen other charges in the killing of Delor "Dean" Cabral inside his apartment house and the beating of another man in the same incident in 2013. Police say Cabral was beaten while trying to help a tenant, who was assaulted but survived.

Another suspect, Joel Valdez, is facing a possible life prison sentence after pleading guilty recently to second-degree murder in Cabral's death.

Belen has been detained on unrelated rape charges since last year.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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