An Illinois man who had a shotgun trap that killed a neighbor last year was convicted on Thursday of murder and another charge, the press reported.
A Union County jury found William Wasmund, 48, guilty of first degree murder and serious bodily harm in the death of Jeff Spicer.
Prosecutors said Wasmund had attached the shotgun to a rope attached to a hangar door on his property, so the weapon could be used when the door was open. The dump killed Spicer as he tried to enter the hangar, officials said. A nearby man found Spicer's body on the Wasmund property on September 16, 2018.
The special prosecutor, Matt Goetten, said it did not matter why Wasmund decided to fire the pistol, only that he did - which ultimately cost Spicer his life.
Wasmund must be sentenced on December 16th. Mansfield said the verdict would be appealed.
