A jury has found a man guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of another man in Livonia, while clearing him of the more serious charge of second-degree murder.
Jurors deliberated for just over an hour before returning the verdict against Spencer Krusell, who admitted to stabbing Nicholas Hatcher.
Before deliberations began, Krusell took the stand in his own defense and told jurors he acted because he feared for his life. "I was backing up. I backed up multiple times. Multiple times," he testified. "I kept backing up. I didn't even punch him one time, and I felt like that was my last resort to get him to stop attacking me."
According to the account of the case, Krusell was with another man who pleaded guilty to stealing Hatcher's book bag from a plasma donation center in Livonia. Police said Hatcher followed the two men and confronted them.
Defense attorney Charles Longstreet II argued that Hatcher started throwing punches, and he asked jurors to weigh whether Krusell's use of force was necessary at that moment. Prosecuting attorney Sara Bonomo acknowledged that Hatcher approached the men, threatened them and punched them. She urged the jury to focus instead on whether Hatcher was using deadly force.
Under questioning, Krusell testified that he aimed low when he used the knife and denied that he intentionally stabbed Hatcher in the heart. "I was in fear for my life, and I didn't aim for his heart, for one," he said.
Krusell also spoke directly to jurors. "That was truly not my intentions for Nicholos Hatcher to die, and I really am sorry," he testified.
After the verdict, Hatcher's mother, Felisha Hatcher, said the outcome gives her a chance to begin healing. "No one won today. No one won," she said. "We got something. We got something. So, I'm glad that I'll be able to start my healing process. This is coming to a close."
Krusell is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Dec. 11.
