(SC) Jury acquits shooter in self-defese case 03-21-04

(AngelShamaya) Subject: Jury acquits shooter in self-defense case (SC)
Jury acquits shooter in self-defense case Posted on March 21, 2004

A Berkeley County man has been acquitted by a jury in the fatal shooting
of an unarmed man almost 2 years ago. The jury deliberated about 2 hours
before clearing Archie Clifford Eagerton III, 26, of voluntary
manslaughter in the April 2002 death of Justin Maurice, 20. Eagerton
said he acted in self-defense when he shot Maurice in the back.

Prosecutors said Maurice was trying to remove himself from a hostile
situation and was shot as he turned away and that the two men did not
know each other.

On the day of the shooting, Eagerton said he picked up someone he barely
knew, Perry Howard. Howard had a previous dispute with people Maurice
was with. The men wanted to attack Howard, and by association, Eagerton.

Eagerton was pursued by Maurice and 4 of his friends for nearly 12 miles
to his rural Berkeley County home. Eagerton said Maurice picked up his
pregnant wife at their home and threw her to the ground.

“We were telling them to leave and that we didn’t want any trouble,”
Eagerton said. “It was 5 against one. I had to do what I had to do.”

Deputy prosecutor Blair Jennings said he respected the jury’s decision.
“Based on all the evidence, the jury felt Mr. Eagerton was in fear for
his life and so he acted in self-defense,” he said.

http://goupstate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040321/NEWS/403210444