PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island man who said he acted in self-defense when he fatally stabbed another man who had insulted his girlfriend on social media has been convicted of manslaughter.
James Stevens, of East Providence, was convicted Monday by a jury that rejected the prosecution’s claim that the December 2016 killing was a case of first-degree murder, but also rejected Stevens’ self-defense argument.
The 31-year-old Stevens took the stand in his own defense to say he went to 24-year-old Jasper Williams’ apartment to “talk” to him and that Williams threw the first punch and then pulled a knife. Stevens says he didn’t realize he had wrested the knife away when he struck back several times. Prosecutors say the victim was stabbed 18 times.
People were interested in these podcasts
Sentencing will be held at a future date.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.