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Cairo man pleads guilty to murder

By Erin Hevern ~ Southeast Missourian

CAIRO, Ill. -- A Cairo man's trial was canceled this week after he pleaded guilty to shooting Jeserick Pilgram of Mounds, Ill., last July.

Melvin Hadley, 28, pleaded guilty Friday to manslaughter, according to Alexander County State's Attorney Jeff Farris.

He was originally charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.

Farris said there are different methods of charging defendants for the same crime. His jury trial was to begin today in Cairo.

Around 2:30 a.m. July 1, 2010, Hadley shot Pilgram outside Mary J's Lounge. He faces up to five years in prison.