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HEBER CITY, Utah (AP) -- After six hours of deliberation, a jury found Joshua Binkerd guilty of manslaughter.
Binkerd was charged with aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, for allegedly giving the go-ahead in the 2008 shooting death of Ashley Sparks at the Jordanelle State Park.
Testimony concluded Wednesday afternoon. On Tuesday a defense witness testified he was told someone besides 23-year-old Binkerd ordered the killing of Ashley Sparks to prevent her from telling about their drug-selling activities.
Jordanelle State Park officials found Sparks shot four times and near death on Dec. 26, 2008. She died soon after.
According to the Deseret News, Wasatch County Attorney Scott Sweat, the lead prosecutor, said, "It wasn't the verdict we were seeking, (but) we understand the jury's verdict."
Christopher Alvey pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in the case in April 2009. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
On Tuesday Scott Rees, an inmate at the Salt Lake County Jail in the days after Sparks was killed, said Alvey told him someone else, not Binkerd, gave the order to Alvey.
Binkerd's sentencing is set for June 16.
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Information from: Deseret News
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