Levi Acre-Kendall Acquitted, Released From Jail
BALSAM LAKE, Wis. (WCCO) -- Polk County District Court Judge Molly GaleWyrick read from the verdicts Monday morning, saying: "We the jury find the defendant not guilty."
As she read three consecutive not guilty findings, there was no fanfare in the packed courtroom, just shocked silence.
The 12-member jury of seven women and five men had spent the past 19 hours of deliberation deciding that defendant Levi Acre-Kendall had acted in self-defense when he fatally stabbed Peter Kelly, a St. Croix Falls father of five.
Polk County Attorney Dan Steffen expressed sadness for Kelly's family after the verdicts were read, saying, "The person who is responsible for the death of their loved one is not going to be convicted of anything. At this point, it is obviously extremely difficult."
Acre-Kendall had a brief moment with his defense team. Meanwhile, his family was reserved in their relief. His parents left the courthouse escorted by deputies and without wishing to comment on their son's acquittal.
However, the victim's brother, Mike Kelly, expressed his disappointment, calling the verdicts an "injustice."
"I know my parents, they're crushed," Kelly said. "We're all crushed. Our family will never be the same, and it will never be over for me."
The jury was deadlocked 11-1 for acquittal during much of the weekend deliberation. Acre-Kendall's lawyers say the pivotal moment came Friday when the 20-year-old defendant took the witness stand in his own defense.
Defense attorney Eric Nelson said his client appeared to jurors as honest, sincere and heartfelt.
"I think that when the jury was instructed in the law and attempting to put themselves in his place at that moment, that that was a turning point," Nelson said.
