Bruce Sons is released (says he shot cop in self defense)

[The Straight Story]

Bruce Sons is released

Video

Posted 5/9/06
SANTA MARIA - Ca. Bruce Sons has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the 1994 shooting death of a Bakersfield CHP officer.

Because he's already served 12 years in jail, the judge ordered his immediate release.

The verdict means jurors rejected Sons’ contention the shooting was in self defense and denied the prosecution’s argument it was premeditated murder. The manslaughter verdict means jurors believed the shooting came “in the heat of passion” or “on a sudden quarrel.”

In all, jurors deliberated about 18 hours.

The case went to the jury May 2. On Thursday, jurors asked for a reading of the transcript of the testimony of witnesses who say they heard Maxwell shout at Sons, “I’d rather shoot you than argue with you.” That testimony was a key to Son’s claim the shooting was in self defense and attorneys in Bakersfield – not associated with the case – speculated the jury was considering acquittal.

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7D4F5C4C-DB88-446D-A76B-0BFAE4147085

What a wild case. See the link for a lot more details (and it gets interesting).

The cops kept messing up in the case (stolen car) and this guy too seems a tad off.