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Plea hearing set for 2 charged with murder in 2013 robbery

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January 7th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plea hearing has been scheduled Friday for two men charged with first-degree murder following the death of a Des Moines resident who was severely beaten in 2013. Polk County District Court records say 21-year-olds Terrance Cheeks and Leshaun Murray pleaded not guilty in July after the charges were filed. Prosecutors say the two were 15 when they attacked Mike Wasike during a carjacking. He died last January after years in care centers.

Court records say prosecutors have extended a plea deal to Cheeks that includes reducing the charge to second-degree murder. The records don’t show whether a similar offer has been made to Murray.