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SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake City man will avoid a murder trial after entering a guilty plea to a reduced charge of manslaughter.
A four-day jury trial for Jonathan Fithian, 29, was scheduled to begin next week. Instead, the man pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, which was originally charged as first-degree felony murder and obstructing justice, also a second-degree felony.
One count of use of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony, was dismissed.
Fithian was charged following the November 2010 shooting death of Paul Butterfield. At a preliminary hearing, witnesses testified that Fithian entered Butterfield's home seeking either drugs, counterfeit money or both.
When Butterfield allegedly insulted Fithian's cousin, Fithian pulled out a gun. Witnesses said it went off after Fithian struck Butterfield with the weapon.
It was unclear whether Fithian meant to fire the weapon or whether it accidentally went off after he pistol-whipped the man. Butterfield was struck in the back and later died.
Fithian will be sentenced Sept. 26.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
