The man who stabbed 22-year-old Beau James Youngs to death during a fight outside a Boylston Street pharmacy pleaded guilty today, accepting up to 10 years in prison rather than face trial tomorrow, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

KEVIN JAMES (D.O.B. 11/1/66), a.k.a. KEVIN WILSON, pleaded guilty to the indicted charge of manslaughter the day before jury selection was scheduled to begin in his trial. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman of Conley’s Homicide Unit recommended a term of 10 to 12 years; Suffolk Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Donovan imposed a term of eight to 10 years.

Both Youngs and James were homeless at the time of the April 30, 2010, incident. Had the case proceeded to trial, Hickman would have introduced evidence and testimony to prove that James was asking for spare change outside of the Walgreen’s Pharmacy in Copley Square when Youngs, his girlfriend, and a third man approached the area. The third man became involved in a verbal altercation with James.

At some point during that altercation, the evidence would have shown, Youngs also engaged James and the two men argued. Youngs’ girlfriend attempted to intercede but the men began to fight.

It was in the course of that fight, the evidence would have shown, that Youngs suffered a fatal stab wound that penetrated his heart. Prosecutors would have introduced witness testimony that “the defendant approached Mr. Youngs and made a jabbing motion toward his abdomen,” Hickman said.

Prior to the imposition of sentencing, Youngs’ girlfriend addressed the court to speak of his death at so young an age.

“Taking away a 22-year-old’s life,” she said, “It’s like killing a kid who didn’t even get a chance to live his life yet.”

Jennifer sears was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. James was represented by attorney Michael Collora.