NewsWest 9
SEATTLE, WA. - New information on the murder of an Odessa man. NewsWest 9 has learned one of the men on trial for brutally beating him to death has cut a deal with prosecutors.
Marcus Dennis and Steve Bauder are on trial for the murder of Noel Lopez in Seattle back in April of 2008.
Testimony has been going on for a couple of weeks now.
But on Monday morning, Dennis decided to make a deal with prosecutors and turned on his co-defendant.
Officials with the King County Prosecutors Office tell NewsWest 9, Dennis admitted to his part in Lopez's death and has agreed to testify against Bauder.
Lopez was found beaten to death at a construction site two and a half years ago.
Steven Bauder and Marcus Dennis were arrested several days later and charged with first degree murder.
Noel Lopez was born and raised in West Texas and still has family in the area, many of whom are in Seattle for the trial.
In return for testifying for the prosecution, Marcus Dennis has agreed to a recommended sentence of not more than 25 years.
Prosecutors tell NewsWest 9, they expect to rest their case early next week, then the defense for Steve Bauder will take over.
