Jeannette woman accused in boyfriend's 2016 death wlll stand trial in October

The murder trial of a Jeannette woman accused in the bludgeoning death of her 19-year-old boyfriend will be held in October.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani this week ordered jury selection for Crystal Belle’s first-degree murder trial to be held Oct. 2 with the trial to start Oct. 7. The trial is about to last about a week.

Belle, 39, is charged with killing Khalil Parker of Brentwood, Allegheny County. His body was found June 11, 2016, in Belle’s South Seventh Street home.

Prosecutors contend Belle tied Parker with shoe laces and used a shovel handle to beat him to death.

Belle faced a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison after she pleaded guilty in September to a reduced charge of third-degree murder. In January, Belle withdrew her guilty plea when her defense lawyer, Brian Aston, said there was not enough evidence to convict her of the murder.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Belle would receive a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.