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FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) -- A Lake City man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing his ex-wife nearly three years ago.

Fifty-three-year-old Rodney Williams pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Florence on Wednesday.

Williams originally had been charged with murder in the 2008 shooting death of 47-year-old Della Williams.

Prosecutor Ed Clements III says Rodney Williams was allowed to plead to lesser charges at the request of the victim's and the suspect's families.

A family member found Della Williams in the front yard of her home on Sept. 10, 2008. Florence County Coroner M.G. Matthews says Della Williams died at the scene.

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