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Detroit porch killer Theodore Wafer guilty of murder Detroit porch killer Theodore Wafer guilty of murder
(35 minutes later)
A Detroit-area man has been found guilty of second-degree murder for killing an unarmed black woman who banged on his door at night last year.A Detroit-area man has been found guilty of second-degree murder for killing an unarmed black woman who banged on his door at night last year.
On Thursday, jurors rejected Theodore Wafer's claim that he acted in self-defence when he fired through his screen door at Renisha McBride, 19. Jurors rejected Theodore Wafer's claim that he acted in self-defence when he fired a shotgun through his screen door at Renisha McBride, 19, in November.
Mr Wafer, 55, faces up to life in prison, but it is likely his actual sentence will be much shorter.Mr Wafer, 55, faces up to life in prison, but it is likely his actual sentence will be much shorter.
Ms McBride, who was drunk, banged on Mr Wafer's door after crashing her car. Ms McBride, who was drunk, had crashed her car nearby some hours before.
The case has raised the issue of the use of guns in self-defence in America, analysts say.The case has raised the issue of the use of guns in self-defence in America, analysts say.
Mr Wafer told jurors he fired after being awaked in the early hours of 2 November by loud banging on his door, because he was afraid and did not want to be a victim in his own home. 'Horrific' crime
Mr Wafer told jurors he fired after being awaked in the early hours of 2 November by loud banging on his door, because he was afraid and did not want to be a victim in his own home, in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
"I wasn't going to cower in my house," he testified on Monday.
But prosecutors said he should have called the police.But prosecutors said he should have called the police.
"What he did had to be immediately necessary and it wasn't. It was reckless. It was negligent. I don't know how to describe it. It was horrific," said prosecutor Patrick Muscat in his closing remarks on Wednesday. In his closing remarks on Wednesday, prosecutor Patrick Muscat said it was likely that Ms McBride was looking for help after crashing her car nearby.
"What he did had to be immediately necessary and it wasn't. It was reckless. It was negligent. I don't know how to describe it. It was horrific," he said.
As well as being convicted of second-degree murder, Mr Wafer has also been found guilty of manslaughter.