A Montana jury has found a Missoula man guilty of deliberate homicide in the April shooting death of a 17-year-old exchange student from Germany who was attending a local high school.
Markus Hendrik Kaarma faces sentencing Feb. 11 and he could spend at least ten years behind bars. According to the Missoulian newspaper, a jury of eight women and four men reached the verdict after deliberating for about eight hours.
The controversial case has become fodder for numerous internet forum discussions on self-defense and home protection. Kaarma shot Diren Dede in a darkened garage April 27. According to published reports, he was allegedly looking for alcohol when the confrontation unfolded.
Kaarma’s home had been burglarized previously, and his defense team argued that the home was being targeted by a teen burglary ring. Defense attorney Paul Ryan, during closing arguments, asserted that Dede was “up to no good” and interested in “stealing something” when he entered Kaarma’s garage, the newspaper reported.
But prosecutors contended that Kaarma had essentially baited a trap. Months ago, Montana news accounts noted that Kaarma and his common-law wife Janelle Pflager had installed motion sensors and a surveillance camera after earlier alleged burglaries. Pflager also reportedly had left a purse in the garage, and the garage door was open.
There was more damaging evidence prior to the incident. Kaarma had allegedly made statements to a local hair stylist in the days before the shooting that because he had been burglarized, he was staying awake at night to catch someone in the act and shoot them.
On the night of the shooting, Kaarma and Pflager were in the house watching television, according to published reports. At about 12:30 a.m., one of the sensors alerted them that there was something moving in the garage. Kaarma grabbed a shotgun and went to investigate.
Four shots were fired, including ones that hit Dede in the head and arm.
Dede’s parents traveled to Montana from Germany to attend the trial and hear the verdict. Dede’s host couple was also in the courtroom.
The verdict is likely to be appealed.
