Jury Convicts Michigan Teen In Brother's Shooting Death
JACKSON, Mich. (AP) - A Jackson County teenager has been convicted in the shooting death of his 20-year-old brother.
The Jackson Citizen Patriot reports a jury found Riley Spitler guilty Thursday of second-degree murder as well as pot possession and felony gun charges. The now 17-year-old was charged with open murder in the December 2014 death of Patrick Spitler.
Jackson Co teen facing life behind bars after jury finds him guilty of 2nd degree murder in brother's shooting death https://t.co/YFxbLD6Vqx
— WLNS Newsroom (@WLNS) January 21, 2016
The five-day trial included about 15 witnesses and Riley Spitler's version of events via police interviews and his 911 call. He told a dispatcher he was "playing around" and "accidentally shot" his brother, and later can be heard saying, "please breathe."
Defense attorney Alfred Brandt says the shooting was unintentional, but prosecutors argue Riley Spitler sought to minimize his role on the 911 call.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in March.
© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.