John Spooner found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee County jury found 76-year-old John Spooner guilty of first-degree intentional homicide on Wednesday, July 17th. It took the jury less than two hours to come up with hits decision. Now, the jury must decide if Spooner was in his right mind at the time of the crime.

Spooner was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Darius Simmons on May 31, 2012.

The jury reached its verdict in part based on the powerful evidence from a video surveillance of the murder actually occurring. The images were captured on Spooner's own camera at his south side Milwaukee home.

The second phase of the trial is now underway. Spooner's attorney will use experts to try to prove Spooner was suffering from a mental disease or defect when the crime took place.

The prosecution will call its own witnesses to show Spooner knew exactly what he was doing -- and was just an angry man looking for someone to pay after his shotguns were stolen.

The jury does not have to be unanimous in its decision. Only ten out of 12 jurors need to agree.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.