NJ man admits fatally shooting wife

Associated Press | AP

NEWARK - A northern New Jersey man has admitted that he fatally shot his wife in front of her toddler daughter more than three years ago.

Shazam Meighoo pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated manslaughter and related charges in the June 2012 slaying of 21-year-old Sanithia Jones-Meighoo. The 38-year-old Newark man now faces an 18-year prison term when he’s sentenced Jan. 11.

Meighoo admitted shooting Jones-Meighoo while her 3-year-old daughter was present in their Newark home. The shooting came after the couple had an argument.

Prosecutors say Meighoo fled to Trinidad a day after the shooting. He was arrested there and extradited back to the United States in December 2014.

Meighoo will likely be deported once he completes his prison term.