Jury Finds Maine Lobsterman Guilty in Killing at Bee Farm

The verdict was announced Wednesday afternoon

Jurors who were asked to consider whether fatal shots were fired in fear or in anger have convicted a lobsterman of murder in a shooting at a beekeeping business in Maine.

The defense said Merrill "Mike" Kimball was defending himself when he shot 63-year-old Leon Kelley three times. But prosecutors say he fired his handgun out of anger, not fear.

Jurors announced their guilty verdict Wednesday afternoon.

The shooting happened during a confrontation on Oct. 6, 2013.

There was bad blood between the two families. The victim's father-in-law ran the honey operation, and there was a rift because he'd made Kimball's wife manager and had written her into his will.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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