Simpson enters guilty plea to lesser charges in rare murder by dueling case
WELCH — A Mercer County man charged with a rare murder by dueling count pleaded guilty Wednesday in McDowell County to two lesser offenses.
Steven Bryant Simpson Sr., 49, of Rock, was indicted by the county’s grand jury last year on one count of murder by dueling in connection with a fatal April 20, 2007, shoot-out in the Gilliam Bottom section of Northfork Hollow. Dana Martin, 39, of the Worth area, died after being struck twice during the gun fight.
Simpson pleaded guilty before Circuit Court Judge Rudolph J. “Rick” Murensky II, to charges of involuntary manslaughter and brandishing a firearm, Prosecuting Attorney Sid Bell said.
In all, nine shots were fired between the two men during the incident.
“We think Mr. Simpson shot at least five times,” Bell said. “Of course Mr. Martin was struck at least two times. Mr. Martin shot four times. It appears all four of his shots went into the windshield of Mr. Simpson’s truck.”
Bell said the duel was the apparent result of an argument between Simpson and Martin over an ATV.
“They got into an argument over the victim allegedly riding his four-wheeler through the community too fast,” Bell said. “Simpson claimed Martin was riding too fast through the community. He told the state police he was making a citizens arrest when he stopped Martin, and had him pinned against the fence.”
http://www.bdtonline.com/local/local_story_014214446.html
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