Taj Poker Room Slasher Gets 5 Years in Prison

Vicente Perez, 56, was charged with stabbing to death a Toms River man after an argument at a Taj Mahal casino poker table in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Perez will serve a 5 year prison sentence.

"I didn't mean to do what I did," said Perez, 56, who spoke with a thick Cuban accent and struggled to hold back tears. "I'm very sorry ... very sorry for what happened, from my heart."

Perez had plead guilty in May of reckless manslaughter, waiving his right to have the case presented to a grand jury for indictment. The plea came just eight weeks after the stabbing outside the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort that killed Arthur Prince, 61.

Sources told NBC 10 at the time the deadly dispute was over a chair at a poker table. They said it began when Perez, who's from Macon, Ga., got up from the table and Prince took his seat.

Sources said when Perez returned and wanted the seat back, Prince refused. The two had words, then brought the argument to the casino's valet area, where things got physical.

Sources said that, once outside, Prince grabbed a cane from an older man standing nearby and began beating Perez. That's when authorities allege Perez pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed Prince, causing him to bleed to death, Greenberg reported.

Perez, a self-employed truck driver from Macon, Ga., must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He will be subject to three years of parole supervision after his release. He has no prior record except for a municipal theft charge from 30 years ago.