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Jeffrey Sterling, 40, of Blue Springs, avoided a life sentence Friday after jurors found him guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action.
The jury deliberated approximately nine hours, according to court staff. Sterling will be sentenced before Circuit Judge Marco Roldan at 4 p.m. on Jan 8.
By finding Sterling guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Jerry Thompson, 43, jurors felt that Sterling acted in self-defense, a claim both he and his attorney, Matt O’Connor, maintained throughout the week.
Jurors recommended a sentence of 20 years in prison for the murder charge and five years for armed criminal action. Roldan will decide in January on the recommendation.
Sterling told the court Wednesday that he pulled out his gun and started shooting to protect himself on Nov. 24, 2008, after he arrived at Thompson’s home off Colbern Road. Sterling said he had gone there to collecct $1,100 owed to him.
He said Wednesday that he felt that a confrontation might be possible.
He told prosecutors that he left his home that morning with a .45 caliber pistol, two magazines with 13 rounds each and related accessories.
Insisting that the matter wasn’t about the money, Sterling told the court numerous times that he planned on killing himself if he couldn’t get what was owed to him.
Sterling described Thompson’s face as becoming red after Thompson threatened to beat him to death.
Sterling said Thompson reached into the bed of his truck, and at that point, Sterling took out his gun and started shooting.
In the end, five shots were fired – the fatal shot striking Thompson in the back of the head.
Sterling drove to Lake Jacomo and was later apprehended by police.
O’Conner said late Friday that it was a tragedy for both families.
“Life for a life is a mantra for the victim’s family,” O’Connor said, “but asking for more pain and sorrow isn’t the answer. Both my client and his family feel for the family. I think that showed through.”
O’Connor focused on many points throughout the week, specifically on what he felt were questionable investigation methods performed by police.
In one instance, he questioned why inventory wasn’t taken of all the vehicles. O’Connor said he couldn’t speculate on why the juror made the decisions.
“I think my client was very fortunate,” he said.
“And I think the jury took their time to think it through.”
Jeffrey Sterling, 40, of Blue Springs, avoided a life sentence Friday after jurors found him guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action.
The jury deliberated approximately nine hours, according to court staff. Sterling will be sentenced before Circuit Judge Marco Roldan at 4 p.m. on Jan 8.
By finding Sterling guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Jerry Thompson, 43, jurors felt that Sterling acted in self-defense, a claim both he and his attorney, Matt O’Connor, maintained throughout the week.
Jurors recommended a sentence of 20 years in prison for the murder charge and five years for armed criminal action. Roldan will decide in January on the recommendation.
Sterling told the court Wednesday that he pulled out his gun and started shooting to protect himself on Nov. 24, 2008, after he arrived at Thompson’s home off Colbern Road. Sterling said he had gone there to collecct $1,100 owed to him.
He said Wednesday that he felt that a confrontation might be possible.
He told prosecutors that he left his home that morning with a .45 caliber pistol, two magazines with 13 rounds each and related accessories.
Insisting that the matter wasn’t about the money, Sterling told the court numerous times that he planned on killing himself if he couldn’t get what was owed to him.
Sterling described Thompson’s face as becoming red after Thompson threatened to beat him to death.
Sterling said Thompson reached into the bed of his truck, and at that point, Sterling took out his gun and started shooting.
In the end, five shots were fired – the fatal shot striking Thompson in the back of the head.
Sterling drove to Lake Jacomo and was later apprehended by police.
O’Conner said late Friday that it was a tragedy for both families.
“Life for a life is a mantra for the victim’s family,” O’Connor said, “but asking for more pain and sorrow isn’t the answer. Both my client and his family feel for the family. I think that showed through.”
O’Connor focused on many points throughout the week, specifically on what he felt were questionable investigation methods performed by police.
In one instance, he questioned why inventory wasn’t taken of all the vehicles. O’Connor said he couldn’t speculate on why the juror made the decisions.
“I think my client was very fortunate,” he said.
“And I think the jury took their time to think it through.”
