Man Guilty Of Murder Over $75 Auto Repair Bill

[matcom]

<snip>

A Dauphin County jury found Michael L. Austin guilty yesterday of gunning down a Harrisburg man over a $75 car-repair bill.

Moments after hearing a court reporter repeat an obscene outburst by Austin, 21, the jury convicted him of first-degree murder in the June 6 death of Auckland Jackson in his Allison Hill apartment. The jury deliberated for about four hours.

The jury also convicted Austin of burglary and simple assault by physical menace, but acquitted him of a charge of reckless endangerment.

The verdicts leave Austin facing a mandatory life term for Jackson's murder. Judge Scott A. Evans scheduled sentencing for June 15.

Although he showed little reaction to the verdict, Austin began shouting obscenities Tuesday when his wife, Monique Maxwell, testified against him.

As District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. was questioning Maxwell about the events leading up to the shooting and whether she was frightened of Austin, Austin called her a "bitch" and told her to die.

As Evans cleared the jury from the courtroom, Austin continued to curse and turned his anger toward Marsico, hurling an expletive and calling him a "cracker."

<snip>

Jackson's girlfriend, Jennifer Miller, testified that problems began about a week before the murder when the couple's car began leaking antifreeze.

She said Maxwell, who lived a block away, suggested Austin could fix it. Austin fixed the leak for $25, but the car then began leaking oil and Austin told them the engine was shot. He was paid another $30, she said.

Two days before the shooting, Miller said, Maxwell assaulted her and when she tried to call police, Austin smashed her cell phone and put a shotgun to her head. Maxwell, who was sentenced to probation for simple assault and conspiracy, told Austin not to shoot her, Miller said.

Miller said she then found a note taped to her door demanding $75 for the car repairs. Later that day, Austin entered the apartment through a fire escape and shot Jackson as he ran out the front door of the home, she said.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1114075486272700.xml

[Zuni]

1. Sounds like Mike Austin probably is a little kookoo

:crazy: