6 defendants in W.Pa. torture slaying face hearing

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Prosecutors say they have a taped confession from one of the six people accused of torturing and killing a mentally disabled western Pennsylvania woman.

Westmoreland County prosecutors played the tape of 20-year-old Melvin Knight’s statement to police during a preliminary hearing this morning.

In the tape played for the court, Knight says he forced 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty to drink urine before stabbing her at the urging of another suspect.

Investigators say the group also forced Daugherty to drink detergent and write a suicide note before killing her and dumping her body in a school parking lot last month in Greensburg, about 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh.

A county judge is deciding whether to hold the group for trial on charges including criminal homicide and kidnapping.