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Man found guilty in death of house guest

Published  May 24, 2016 7:12am PDT
Associated Press

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A man charged with killing his roommate and burning the evidence along an Auburn, Washington, road in 2014 has been found guilty of second-degree murder.

The News Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1s6spqC ) Michael Boisselle was convicted Monday in the death of 30-year-old Brandon Zomalt. A first-degree murder charge against him was dropped after jurors couldn't decide whether the killing was premeditated.

Pierce County prosecutors say Boisselle shot and killed Zomalt in August 2014 because he had been tired of him living at his house.

Investigators had found the victim's decomposed body at a home after his blood was linked to debris found in a roadside fire.

Boisselle's attorney argued that his client shot Zomalt in self-defense after the victim held him hostage at gunpoint.

Boisselle faces 17 to 25 years in prison.