A Ketchikan man on Friday was found guilty of two felony assault charges after a stabbing in October.
Forty-five-year-old Justin William Carpenter was initially charged with one count of first degree assault after police say he stabbed his landlord over a disagreement about a laundry machine. Carpenter was later indicted on two first degree assault counts, one third degree assault count and one attempted murder count. Carpenter was found not guilty of the attempted murder charge.
Prosecutor Jackson Willard, an attorney who represented the state, said during his closing arguments that Carpenter tried to kill his landlord. He argued that Carpenter was the initial aggressor.
“He was literally fighting for his life,” Willard said. “He had to grab Mr. Carpenter’s arms to prevent himself from being stabbed, even worse than he already had been.”
Willard also referenced Carpenter’s testimony, saying that the landlord grabbed Carpenter’s arm while talking about laundry. Willard argued that stabbing someone is “not a reasonable reaction” to being grabbed on the arm.
Carpenter’s attorney, Ariel Toft, said in her closing arguments that it was a case of self-defense. She argued that Carpenter was boxed in, grabbed from behind and wrestled to the ground by his landlord.
“Remember when we discussed injury selection, that just because somebody uses force against someone doesn’t mean their intent is to hurt or kill that person,” Toft said. “Their intent may be to protect themselves, get somebody to stop hurting them, or get themselves some time to get away.”
Toft also argued that the state failed to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt.
The jury’s verdict came after a weeklong trial at the Ketchikan Courthouse. Superior Court Judge Katherine Lybrand presided over the case.
Carpenter’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 1 at the Ketchikan Courthouse.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
