Man gets 14 years in fatal stabbing of teen

DOVER, Del. (AP) - September 25, 2008 Forty-year-old Francis Cooper pleaded guilty in July to manslaughter in the 2006 slaying of 17-year-old Alfred Clark of Dover. At sentencing on Wednesday, Cooper told Clark's family that he was "truly sorry" for his role in the teen's death.

Prosecutors say Cooper stabbed Clark more than 50 times with a kitchen knife then put the body in a trash can and fled to a relative's home in Grasonville, Md.

Cooper's defense attorney argued Clark stormed into Cooper's home demanding payment for a drug debt and Cooper acted in self-defense.

As part of the plea agreement, the state agreed to seek a prison term of 20 years or less.

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