Pubdate: Sun, 12 Sep 1999
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 1999 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/

DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENT ADMITS KILLING COLLEAGUE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A Drug Enforcement Ad-
ministration agent pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Friday in the
shoot-ing death of another agent during a ride home from a holiday
party.

The agent, Richard A. Fekete, faces up to 14 years in prison, but his
lawyers said they hoped for leniency because doctors had concluded
that Mr. Fekete is an alcoholic plagued by psychotic delusions.

Mr. Fekete, 55, has said he does not recall leaving a party at the
Dade County Police Benevolent Associa-tion hall with fellow agent
Shaun E. Curl, or a car crash after the shoot-ing in Miramar.

When the police arrived at the accident scene, Mr. Curl, 39, of Coral
Springs, lay dead from gunshots to the head.

Mr. Fekete told investigators he had been drinking for more than 10
hours on the day of the shooting, starting at a Christmas party for
prosecutors and investigators on an anti-drug task force.
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