Little Falls homeowner found guilty of murdering teens

[sarisataka]

Little Falls homeowner found guilty of murdering teens
By Amy Forliti
Associated Press
POSTED: 04/29/2014 12:01:00 AM CDT | UPDATED: 14 MIN. AGO

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. -- A Minnesota homeowner who shot and killed two teenagers during a break-in has been convicted of premeditated murder.

Bryon Smith had claimed he was simply defending himself during the break-in at his home in the small city of Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day 2012.

Smith's attorney said the 65-year-old was fearful after previous burglaries.

But prosecutors argued that Smith waited in his basement and intended to kill the teens. A total of nine shots were fired at 17-year-old Nick Brady and 18-year-old Haile Kifer.

Minnesota law allows a person to use deadly force for defense, but that action must be considered reasonable. Jurors found him guilty of both first-degree and second-degree murder charges.

Good verdict, self defense is not an excuse for murder. Once the threat is stopped the defense must stop.

[hlthe2b]

1. How different (and more rational) are the juries in MN--versus recent TX and FL

Good on them.

[gejohnston]

2. this was an obvious summery execution

It isn't so much the rationality of the juries as it is the honesty of the reporting in the media. There are also minute details that the jury sees that never gets reported in the media. The media depends on creating a narrative and sticks to it to maintain sales or smear someone they don't like. Sometimes they get caught.
The greater the initial exposure, the less likely it will be anything near the truth. Once accurate details come out, the media is busy chasing another squirrel or some banal celebrity's personal life.
IOW, the media almost always gets it wrong.

[Jenoch]

3. What I don't get is how he can be convicted of both 1st and 2nd degree murder.

[blueridge3210]

7. Two victims? (NT)

[Jenoch]

9. He was found guilty on four counts,

two 1st degree and two 2nd degree, one each for each victim.

[Straw Man]

4. This was premeditated.

He laid a trap and murdered them. He wanted to kill somebody. He deserves the worst that the law can throw at him in Minnesota, whatever that is.

[sarisataka]

6. He has been sentenced

To two counts of life without parole.

[Logical]

5. This a great conviction. Self defense is one thing, this was murder! nt

[Duckhunter935]

8. Sounds like a good

verdict

[oldhippie]

10. Works for me

Good verdict.

[Eleanors38]

11. Looks like a proper verdict. Not self-defense.