Man pleads guilty in slaying

A Roxbury man pleaded guilty yesterday to manslaughter in the stabbing death of his friend in 2001 and, through his lawyer, apologized to the victim's family.

Michael Riley Jr., 29, entered the plea in Suffolk Superior Court in the death of Ernesto Smith, 26, of Jamaica Plain on April 23, 2001, the Suffolk district attorney's office said.

Riley was sentenced to nine years in state prison.

He and Smith were sitting on the steps at 130 Heath St. in the Bromley-Heath housing development drinking and talking with neighbors when they began to argue at about 8:30 p.m., prosecutors said.

When the argument turned physical and spilled over into a nearby parking lot, Riley stabbed Smith once in the left side of his neck. He was pronounced dead the next day at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"He was like a best friend; things got out of control," Riley said at a hearing yesterday, according to the district attorney's office.

During the hearing, Riley's lawyer said that his client asked that his expression of remorse be relayed to the victim's family, according to the district attorney's office. Smith's family was not at the hearing but would be made aware of Riley's remarks though a victim advocate, said spokesman Jake Wark.

"This case was simply tragic," said a statement issued by District Attorney Daniel F. Conley. "We hope its resolution comes as some comfort to Mr. Smith's loved ones."

Riley was indicted in 2004 on a single count of voluntary manslaughter.

He was already serving a sentence for armed robbery and assault with intent to murder.