On Friday, a Butte County jury convicted a homeless man of an August 2021 stabbing of one other homeless man of their Commanche Creek homeless encampment.
Butte County District Legal professional Mike Ramsey mentioned on Friday evening that Jedidiah James Wright, 30, was discovered responsible of a single rely of second-degree homicide following a six-day jury trial, and two full days of deliberations.
The jury discovered Wright responsible of fatally stabbing John Snoberger, 47, to loss of life on August 1, 2021.
In line with the press launch launched by his workplace, Ramsey mentioned in the course of the trial that each Wright and Snoberger had been residing on the homeless encampment within the Comanche Creek Greenway and that Snoberger had a camp close to the entrance north entrance, whereas Wright had a camp close to the south again of the camp.
In line with Ramsey, witnesses from the encampment testified that Snoberger had simply returned from a comfort retailer down the road and was at his camp when Wright approached and requested his identify.
After Snoberger advised him who he was, Wright instantly stabbed him with a 2-inch-long knife that pierced Snoberger’s coronary heart. Witnesses additionally advised the jury that the assault was with out warning. Nonetheless, Ramsey mentioned that Wright claimed on the stand that the sufferer had swung at him first, however he additionally admitted to mendacity to Chico cops throughout their preliminary interview of him.
In line with Ramsey, deputy district attorneys Jessica Miller and Stephanie Roose argued to the jury that even when Snoberger swung on Wright earlier than the stabbing, self-defense was not relevant as Wright used far more pressure than was essential to defend himself towards the older and smaller Snoberger. Moreover, the prosecution argued that Wright was mates with a person Snoberger fought the day earlier than and received.
Ramsey mentioned the prosecutors argued that the assault on Snoberger was in retaliation for that earlier battle and that Wright had been seen earlier on the day of the stabbing “scooping out” Snoberger’s camp.
Prosecutors additionally used Chico police drone footage exhibiting how far Wright needed to stroll to get to Snoberger’s camp – some 14 minutes – and different paths of journey he might have taken to keep away from Snoberger’s camp.
Wright stays in custody on the Butte County Jail with no bail. He's presently scheduled for sentencing on June 30, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., the place he faces a 16- yr to life time period in state jail.