Published: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
2nd jury convicts Spokane woman in husband's death
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SPOKANE -- A second jury has convicted a Spokane, Wash., woman of murdering her estranged husband in 2007.
Defense lawyers told Superior Court jurors that Dale Stark subjected his wife, Shellye Stark, to 24 years of abuse, including forced prostitution. However, the jury on Friday rejected the defense contention that the shooting was self-defense.
While convicted of first-degree murder, Shellye Stark was acquitted on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
In 2009, a jury convicted Stark on both charges. Those convictions were thrown out on appeal because of a technicality involving jury instructions.
Shellye Stark testified that her husband was reaching for a knife when she shot him in the back. The prosecution said it didn't happen that way.
Defense lawyers told Superior Court jurors that Dale Stark subjected his wife, Shellye Stark, to 24 years of abuse, including forced prostitution. However, the jury on Friday rejected the defense contention that the shooting was self-defense.
While convicted of first-degree murder, Shellye Stark was acquitted on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
In 2009, a jury convicted Stark on both charges. Those convictions were thrown out on appeal because of a technicality involving jury instructions.
Shellye Stark testified that her husband was reaching for a knife when she shot him in the back. The prosecution said it didn't happen that way.
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