Michael Turner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A Wausau man accused of killing an acquaintance in May of 2021 will see his jury trial begin on Monday.
Michael Turner was in court for a final pre-trial hearing on Wednesday where a judge confirmed that a 75-person jury pool will convene next week. That pool will be whittled to 12 jurors and two alternates before opening statements.
Tuner faces one count of intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for the incident. Investigators say he approached the victim, a 45-year-old Wausau man, and shot him as he was sitting in a parked vehicle. The victim was able to go to a nearby business for help and was hospitalized, but later died from his injuries.
Turner then fled Wausau and was arrested in Marquette County.
Court records show Turner’s defense team also lobbied for a change of venue, which was denied. He then pled guilty to a pair of drug charges, though sentencing for those may be a moot point. If he’s found guilty of the homicide count, he will receive a mandatory life sentence with only the possibility of parole to be discussed at sentencing.
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