Husband admits killing wife in Fernley

YERINGTON -- Mike Fixer Newcastle, the Las Vegas man charged with gunning down his estranged wife on Farm District Road in Fernley in May 2007, pleaded guilty today, less than one week before the start of his first-degree murder trial.

Newcastle, 35, entered the guilty plea to first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement before Lyon County District Judge David Huff this morning.

As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution, and victim Shelby Hagedorn Joanette's family have agreed to ask for life with the possibility of parole after 20 years and 10 years on the use of a deadly weapon.

Newcastle will be sentenced in November.

For the full story, read Wednesday's Nevada Appeal