A Monmouth County man pleaded guilty Tuesday, a day before he was set to go to trial for manslaughter. Matthew Piazza faced 10 years in prison if convicted in the killing of Thomas Walker, who died Nov. 15, 2014 — two weeks after he was knocked unconscious by Piazza.
Instead, Piazza pleaded guilty Tuesday to endangering an injured victim. Piazza, 29, admitted he rendered Walker, 27, unconscious on the fourth floor of the hotel at Harrah’s Atlantic City.
He and a friend then tried to carry Walker to their room.
Both the family of the victim and the prosecutor agreed to the plea, the prosecutor in the case told the judge.
Piazza’s defense was expected to possibly argue self-defense or defense of others at trial, according to information released during the plea.
The plea is open, which means Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury will sentence Piazza as he sees fit for the third-degree crime. Sentencing is set for March 6.
At that time, defense attorney Andrew Butchko said he will ask for a civil reservation, meaning the plea cannot be used in any civil litigation pertaining to Walker’s death.
DeLury indicated he would grant that request. Piazza faces as long as five years in prison, with half that time parole ineligible.
If he had been convicted of manslaughter, he faced 10 years in prison with a mandatory 85 percent. Piazza has been free on bail.
