'Castle doctrine' protects Missouri man in 2 separate killings

ROBERTSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man who twice has killed intruders at a rural home this year has been protected by the state's "castle doctrine" in both cases.

Michael T. Wieners fatally shot a former roommate in February. He fatally stabbed a neighbor in June. Missouri's castle doctrine gives people occupying homes or vehicles broad license to protect themselves with deadly force.

Wieners told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he killed his former friends in self-defense. The 55-year-old Franklin County resident said he "wasn't looking for that."

Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke says "there were things" that concerned authorities about the deaths but that there isn't evidence to sway concerns in either direction.

Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Bob Parks says people get "the benefit of the doubt" due to the castle doctrine.