Michael Poth, the former Marine, was found guilty Monday of voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the April 2012 stabbing death of 23-year-old Philip Bushong, a fellow Marine.
Jurors in the case delivered their verdict around 2:20 p.m. Monday after deliberating for approximately two and a half days.
Police found Bushong April 21, 2012 around 2:40 a.m. on the 700 block of 8th Street Southeast suffering from an apparent stab wound; he would later die. Poth was arrested that same day and charged in connection with Bushong’s death.
During trial, prosecutors alleged that Poth stabbed and killed Bushong out of anger, moments after yelling a homophobic slur in his direction. But Poth’s defense attorneys argued that Poth stabbed Bushong in self-defense, after Bushong attacked him.
The case is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 7, 2014.
