COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- A man whose conviction for the beating death of a child was overturned on appeal has now pleaded guilty rather than go through another trial.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (http://bit.ly/NypXya ) reports that 41-year-old Timothy Murphy pleaded guilty to murder Monday in Columbus and was sentenced to life in prison with the chance of parole.

He was convicted more than a decade ago of murder in the 1998 beating death of the 15-month-old daughter of his girlfriend. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. The Georgia Supreme Court overturned the conviction because of an improper comment by the trial judge.

Defense attorney Will Kirby said the risk of a second trial wasn't worth it. He said the new sentence will make Murphy eligible for parole in 14 years.