NEWARK, Dec 23: A Pakistani man on Thursday admitted he killed his live-in companion on a trip to Pakistan in January, buried his body in a field, and then tried to collect the assets of the man’s estate.

Khawar Gardazi, 31, pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark to the killing of a US national and wire fraud in connection with the death of Nicolas Queune, 52.

Gardazi, according to the US attorney Christopher J. Christie, tried to take control of Queune’s estate, including his home, life insurance and retirement savings.

Gardazi, a native of Pakistan and a US citizen, faces a maximum 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled in March.

According to prosecutors, Gardazi attempted to loot Queune’s estate by claiming Queune had died of natural causes and presenting a photocopied, fraudulent death certificate for Queune.—AP