CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – A Clarion man who shot and killed his girlfriend in March of 2017 was found guilty of murder charges Friday afternoon at the Clarion County Courthouse.
The trial for 23-year-old Damien L. Ditz began with jury selection Monday at 9 a.m. and concluded Friday around 3:45 p.m. with a jury of seven women and five men finding Ditz guilty of third-degree murder.
Prior to the opening arguments by the defense and the prosecution on Tuesday, Clarion County President Judge James G. Arner had instructed the jury that there were five ways the case could be decided:
– Not Guilty
– Guilty of First-Degree Murder
– Guilty of Third-Degree Murder
– Guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter
– Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
Ditz fatally shot 22-year-old Clarion University student Katrina Renee Seaburn, of Curwensville on March 1, 2017, in Washington Township, Clarion County.
The two were in an on-again, off-again relationship at the time of Seaburn’s death and Ditz’s attorney, Adam Bishop, argued that the shooting was accidental.
The case was tried by Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron.
A sentencing date will be determined at a later time.
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