PROVO, Utah (AP) — A Utah jury acquitted a man charged with murder after finding he shot and killed an acquaintance in self-defense.
Jurors in Provo’s 4th District Court found 20-year-old Elbert John Paule guilty of a single charge of obstructing justice Friday, The Deseret News reports.
The obstruction charge was also related to the death last year of 26-year-old Dominique Barnett.
The jury deliberated for 11 hours before returning not-guilty verdicts on charges of first-degree murder, reckless endangerment and assault.
Paule shot Barnett with a shotgun at point-blank range at Paule’s Orem apartment, prosecutors said.
Barnett went to the apartment complex with his girlfriend and their child to confront Paule about a drug deal, police said.
Paule later turned himself in to police in California’s San Diego County, where his family lives.
Paule’s defense attorney presented evidence that Barnett threatened Paule and went to Paule’s home intending to assault him.
Paule remained in custody and faces a maximum sentence of one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison during his April 22 sentencing.
