SAN ANTONIO – After more than seven hours of deliberation, a jury found Lars Itzo guilty of manslaughter.
Itzo shot and killed his wife, saying he thought she was an intruder.
Itzo seemed to be in disbelief, and at one point just shook his head before sitting back down in his chair after a verdict was handed down.
Itzo was found not guilty on murder charges.
The 49-year-old shot and killed his wife, 48-year-old Debra Kelly. Itzo said Thursday that he was woken up by a light and voices whom he believed to be intruders. He grabbed a sawed-off shotgun and fired once, hitting Kelly in the chest, killing her.
Itzo said he thought his wife was in bed and told the court he hasn’t been the same since that day.
“I haven't been thinking normally since. I just keep wanting my wife back," he said.
The punishment phase of the trial is scheduled for Friday morning. Itzo faces up to 20 years in prison.