Wisconsin, Guilty verdict in Jefferson double slaying case

OFF THE WIRE
The man accused of gunning down an Oconomowoc police officer and her boyfriend outside of a Jefferson tavern was found guilty Sunday of a lesser charge.

Andrew J. Wirth, 25, of Jefferson was accused of killing police officer Jennifer Luick, 37, and her boyfriend, Gregg Peters, 40, outside a Jefferson bar in December.

The jury found Wirth not guilty on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide but found him guilty of two counts of homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. Jurors had been deliberating since 4 p.m. Saturday.

Instead of facing life in prison, Wirth now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $50,000 in fines for both counts.

The shooting occurred in the early morning of Dec. 6 at a popular Jefferson bar, Vinnie's Rock Bottom.

Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ told jurors during the trial that Wirth shot and killed the two victims after Luick pinched Wirth on the buttocks in the bar.

According to the criminal complaint, Luick meant it as a joke, but Wirth got upset. During the confrontation that followed, Wirth pulled out a .380-caliber handgun and fatally shot Peters and Luick, an off-duty Town of Oconomowoc police officer, according to the criminal complaint.

But Samuel Benedict, the attorney for Wirth, said Wirth acted in self-defense after Peters threatened him.

Wirth was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. He also was charged with three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety related to three other patrons who were outside the bar.

Before the trial, Happ asked for the endangering safety charges to be dropped, which Jefferson County Circuit Judge Jennifer Weston permitted.

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