A northern New Jersey man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for beating his friend to death with a metal dumbbell.
The Record reports that Esteban Castillo, of Paterson, apologized Tuesday in court for the killing of 30-year-old Williams Vasconcello. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in July.
Castillo said he hit Vasconcello several times in the head with a 25-pound metal dumbbell on Oct. 18, 2013, during a heated argument at Castillo's apartment on Martin Street. Castillo said Vasconcello was his boyfriend but the victim's family says the two men were just friends.
Authorities said Vasconcello's body was found two days after the killing.
Castillo's attorney says his client has been in two drug treatment programs and takes medication for depression and bipolar disorder.
