Days before he was set to stand trial for killing a local woman, a Berlin man has instead pleaded guilty to a single charge of murder.

Patrick Wesley Stallings, 36, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors just ahead of the start of his scheduled jury trial, which had been slated to begin May 23.

He had remained in the Cullman County Detention Center on a $75,000 cash bond ever since he was arrested for the crime in early 2014.

Stallings agreed to serve 28 years in prison by admitting to the murder charge.

Stallings was set to stand trial for shooting Britni Lynn Champagne with a 12-gauge shotgun in March of 2014. Law enforcement’s statement of probable cause observed Stallings and Champagne to have been arguing about infidelity in a romantic relationship just before the murder.

Champagne, who was 32 at the time of her death, was killed by a single shot to her abdomen. She was pronounced dead after being transported to Huntsville Hospital for her injuries.

Stallings shot her inside his residence, located in the Berlin community. A minor child was present at the time of the shooting, and was considered a witness in the case.

Court records indicate Stallings confessed to shooting Champagne while on the phone with law enforcement shortly after leaving the scene in the Champagne’s car.

Deputies recovered “multiple used syringes, drug paraphernalia, the [alleged] offender’s wallet with a photograph of the victim and a 12-gauge shotgun, which is believed to be the weapon” used to shoot Champagne, according to court records.

* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.