Printer Friendly
Email to a Friend
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) - A 48-year-old man has been convicted in the beating death of another man in St. Joseph.
The St. Joseph News-Press reports that Hank Cooper pleaded guilty Tuesday in Buchanan County to involuntary manslaughter in the June death of 36-year-old Robert Martinez.
Cooper said he fought with two men after finding a man on his bed and running him out of his house. He said that during the fight, he swung a board because one man was coming after him with a knife.
The judge interrupted Cooper at one point, saying that his statement could lead a jury to find him not guilty under a self-defense doctrine. Cooper said he wished to plead guilty, and the prosecution argued that Cooper wasn't acting in self-defense.
Sentencing is set for January 8th.
© Associated Press
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Horton man arrested following weekend shooting
Hiawatha man facing sex, drug charges waives prelim hearing
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Two arrested Thursday in Jackson Co on meth-related charges
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
Inmate dies at Lansing Correctional Facility
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
One held for past Atchison shooting
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
MO grass fire battled Thursday
Mound City Mayor Duane Nauman remembered
Community Healthcare System hires new CEO
Brown Co Planning Commission established
Falls City School Board approves personnel moves and purchases
Valley Falls' future set for Wednesday eve discussion
PBPN breaks ground for new business
LATEST STORIES
Friday afternoon: Avoid Hwy 16 west of Holton
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Rates to increase at Brown Co landfill
NOAA weather radio event set in Seneca
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Hiawatha, Ks 66434