A Fayette County man has pled guilty to murder in the shooting death of a local businessman a year ago.

In Superior Court Tuesday, Charles William Sangster, 46, admitted to killing Robert Groninger, 43, at Groninger’s business, Big Tree Tree Service on Ga. Highway 92 north July 6, 2005. The plea allows Sangster to escape a possible death penalty sentence.

Sangster will be imprisoned the rest of his life without parole; the sentence was issued by Judge Tommy Hankinson.

Groninger’s family supported the plea agreement in part because they worried about how long the appeals process would drag the death penalty case out, said District Attorney Scott Ballard.

With the case concluded, Ballard revealed more details about the crime scene and subsequent investigation that had not yet come to light.

An eyewitness parked nearby witnessed the shooting and heard Groninger plead with Sangster, Ballard said.

“Groninger begged for his life, and said ‘Please don’t kill me,’” according to witness Robert Lapinski, Ballard said.

Sangster shot Groninger “at least” seven times with a 7.62 SKS assault rifle as he chased him around Sangster’s truck, Ballard said. Lapinski, who was on a business call at the time the shooting began, called 911 and described what he saw as it happened, Ballard said.

Once Groninger was unable to move, Sangster retrieved a .38-caliber revolver from the nearby office and put it in Groninger’s hand, Ballard said.

Deputies determined the revolver hadn’t even been fired, as it was fully loaded with no empty casings, Ballard said.

After the shooting, Sangster called his ex-wife and told her he shot Groninger before asking her to come pick him up, Ballard said. Instead she called 911 to alert authorities.

“I think that was a remarkable act on her part,” Ballard said, noting that her love for her ex-husband could easily have kept her from doing so.

Other evidence against Sangster included a positive test for gunshot residue on his hand, Ballard said. Ballard said he was unsure how Sangster got the gun.

Groninger, who owned Big Tree, had used Sangster as a contract employee. Leading up to the shooting, the pair had quarreled over a part for a Bobcat earth mover, and that may have sparked the deadly confrontation, Ballard said.

Authorities believe that Sangster fired at Groninger while he was still inside his truck, with the first shot coming through the truck’s window, Ballard said.

Sangster apparently had been living inside the Big Tree business office and had paid rent at times for doing so, Ballard said.

Sangster did not make any statement of remorse at Tuesday’s hearing, but he responded to questions from Ballard and Judge Hankinson to insure that he was capable of entering the plea and also satisfied with the representation he got from his attorneys.

In exchange for the plea to felony murder, Ballard agreed to drop a second charge of malice murder and a third charge for aggravated assault. That will not have an affect on Sangster’s jail sentence, he added.

“The important thing is to make sure everybody is safe from this guy, and he will be in jail for the rest of his life,” Ballard said.

Groninger had a lot of friends and his funeral was packed, Ballard said. One of those friends was Fayette County Sheriff Randall Johnson, who was one of the first to arrive on the scene and caught Sangster with the assistance of another deputy.

Ballard said the sheriff’s department did an excellent job on the investigation.

Before handing down the sentence, Hankinson noted that Sangster’s actions will affect Groninger’s family and friends “for years to come.”

Groninger’s wife, Deborah, was present at the hearing along with family and friends, some of whom choked back tears as the case came to its conclusion. In a statement, the family thanked the sheriff’s department and the DA’s office.

“We are pleased with the outcome and feel that justice has been served for Robert today,” the statement said.

The family also said they appreciated everyone who has supported them.

“The care and concern that so many have shown has touched us deeply. Charles Sangster may have taken Robert’s life but his caring spirit will live on in those he touched with his bright smile and giving nature.”