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Nampa woman pleads guilty to killing mother

| October 14, 2012 9:00 PM

NAMPA (AP) - A Nampa woman who beat her 69-year-old mother to death with a hammer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

Kelly Singh, 40, pleaded guilty Friday in 3rd District Court for the February killing of Ruth Collins in the home they shared.

"I had gotten into an argument with her, and went into the bedroom while intoxicated," Singh told Judge Juneal Kerrick. "And from what I remember, I grabbed a hammer and hit her in the head."

An investigator said Singh sent a text message to her sister just days before the attack professing her desire kill Collins with a blow to the head.

"This may happen within two days," the text read.

Police said they arrived at the family's residence in February to find Singh covered in blood and Collins dying from blunt force trauma to the head. Collins was taken to a hospital where she died a short time later.

The plea deal calls for Singh to serve up to a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years in prison. Judge Juneal Kerrick is not bound by the agreement and could require a harsher sentence, which for first-degree murder includes a death sentence.

Singh in May had pleaded not guilty after a mental health evaluation that found she could understand the procedure against her.

Singh's attorney on Friday said Singh understood what she was doing.

"Kelly was very astute in her understanding of what the state was going to present (as evidence)," said defense attorney Aaron Bazzoli. "It was probably two or three weeks ago, she started talking to me about dialogue. She just wanted to plea and keep moving forward."