As I Lay Dying singer Tim Lambesis has pleaded guilty to hiring a hitman to murder his estranged wife.

The metalcore star had previously denied the charge, but on Tuesday (February 25) he changed his plea in a Californian courthouse.

The singer was arrested in May last year after he was stung by police after apparently telling a personal instructor that he wanted to kill his wife Meggan, who filed for dissolution of marriage in 2012.

Prosecutors say Lambesis agreed to pay $20,000 (£11,981) for the job before meeting up with an undercover cop who posed as a hitman.

It was heard that the musician had complained about Meggan making it difficult for him to see his three children, adding that she was also delaying divorce proceedings.

The singer will be sentenced on May 2, with Lambesis facing a nine year jail sentence.

As I Lay Dying were nominated for a Grammy in 2008 for the song 'Nothing Left'.

Watch As I Lay Dying in action below: