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SALT LAKE CITY — After deliberating for just two hours, a jury on Friday convicted a Salt Lake man of murder for killing a man shortly after the victim was kicked out of a party.
The jury's verdict came after three days of testimony in the case against Adam Karr, 27, who was convicted of murder, a first-degree felony, and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony, in the July 31, 2012, stabbing death of Kaleb Yazzie.
Yazzie, 22, had gone to a party at the home brothers Adam and Ammon Karr shared at 31 Girard Ave. Witnesses said Yazzie was told to leave the party but quickly returned to the house to retrieve liquor he had brought, eventually prompting a fight.
Yazzie's "obnoxious" behavior at the party led Adam Karr to feel he, his brother and their home had been disrespected, prosecutors told jurors at the beginning of the trial. One partygoer testified that when Yazzie mentioned wanting to fight Ammon Karr, Adam Karr grabbed a small knife and threatened to "shank" Yazzie before following Yazzie up the stairs of the home.
During the fight, prosecutors say Adam Karr struck Yazzie several times in the chest with his knife. After being stabbed, Yazzie walked off the porch and collapsed on the ground. Stephen Thomasson, then 17, who was staying at the Karr residence, dragged Yazzie's body down the road to an alley, before kicking him in the head and leaving him there.
Police were called around 2 a.m. and found Yazzie, who was still alive. He died less than two hours later.
Investigators said the Karr brothers then changed their bloody clothes and put them in a bag.
Defense attorney Richard Mauro asked jurors to remember that the events took place at the Karrs' home and said homes are places of safety and protection. Everyone was having a good time at the party except for a drunk Yazzie, who was talking about being a knife fighter, showing off mixed martial arts moves, flashing gang signs and threatening the Karr brothers.
Ammon Karr pleaded guilty to obstruction, a third-degree felony, which was reduced from a second-degree felony, in November. An additional charge of aggravated assault was dismissed. Thomasson pleaded no contest in juvenile court to manslaughter. He will be under state jurisdiction until he is 21.
Adam Karr will be sentenced Aug. 5.
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