N.J. motel resident charged in beating death

A 47-year-old Burlington County man was charged yesterday with murder in the beating death of a man he had been drinking with Sunday night.

Officials said Willie Lincoln, who lives at the Pine Motel in Mansfield Township, allegedly became angry when the victim started falling into him as they walked from an acquaintance's motel room to their own rooms.

Joel Bewley, spokesman for the county Prosecutor's Office, said Lincoln punched 55-year-old Thomas Albertson, knocked him to the ground, and stomped on his head. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. outside the motel on Route 130.

Albertson was pronounced dead about 10 p.m. at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro. Lincoln, who is legally blind, was being held yesterday after failing to post $250,000 bail. - Jan Hefler