Defense hits girlfriend's deal in New Hampshire murder trial
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Defense lawyers for the man accused of raping and killing a University of New Hampshire student say his girlfriend changed her story and testified against him only to get a reduced sentence.
Seth Mazzaglia is on trial for first-degree murder in the October 2012 death of 19-year-old Elizabeth "Lizzi" Marriott of Westborough, Massachusetts. Prosecutors say he strangled her, raped her then helped dump her body in a river.
During cross-examination, defense lawyer Joachim Barth reminded the prosecution's star witness, 20-year-old Kathryn McDonough, that she first said Marriott died during consensual rough sex with McDonough.
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McDonough agreed she later changed her story, saying Mazzaglia killed Marriott after she rejected his sexual advances. She has pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and is serving 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison.