Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A 63-year-old Las Vegas man was acquitted of attempted murder, but convicted of battery, assault and reckless disregard for spraying gasoline on a man who annoyed him and setting it ablaze during an argument at a convenience store in October 2012.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1lGzQ0M ) that Patrick Newell appeared relieved by Thursday's verdict after his trial in Clark County District Court.
Theodore Bejarano was badly burned. But defense lawyer Scott Coffee says Newell wasn't trying to kill him.
Coffee told the jury the 35-year-old Bejarano was a predator who accosted Newell as he pumped gas at a Circle K and demanded a ride home.
Prosecutor Hetty Wong said Newell tried to kill Bejarano, and jeopardized the lives of everybody nearby.
Newell is scheduled for sentencing Aug. 21.
___
Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
