Trucker convicted in two small-town Mich. killings

CORUNNA, Mich. (AP) -- A jury convicted a trucker of first-degree murder last Thursday in the shootings of an abortion protester and a businessman in a small Michigan community, rejecting claims that the gunman could not be held criminally responsible because he was mentally ill at the time. The verdict came after less than six hours of deliberations in Shiawassee County court, 90 miles northwest of Detroit. Harlan Drake, 34, faces life in prison without parole. "We had a fair opportunity to present our defense," Drake's lawyer, Robert Ashley, told The Associated Press. "The jury made its decision. I've got no quarrel." This wasn't a whodunit: Ashley conceded in his opening statement that his client killed James Pouillon, 63, and Mike Fuoss, 61. Drake testified for hours this week, telling jurors that he was dangerous and deserved to die for his actions. A psychiatrist testified that Drake suffers from mental illness and remains devastated by a crash that killed two teens in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 2004 when their car pulled in front of his semi-truck. "Basically I hate myself. I have for a long time," Drake told jurors. "I found myself being depressed and cranky quite a bit." Prosecutors summoned their own expert who said Drake understood the seriousness of repeatedly shooting his victims in Owosso last Sept. 11. He cleaned his guns, loaded them and even drove his nieces to school shortly before the murders. Drake testified that he didn't like Pouillon regularly standing near Owosso High School displaying a picture of a dead fetus. Drake's mother had formerly worked at Fuoss' gravel business and had disputes with the owner. Pouillon was shot four times. While shooting Fuoss 17 times, Drake said he told him, "You should be nicer to your employees." He testified that he read the autopsy reports "so I could see what my aim was like." The jury also had the option of finding Drake guilty but mentally ill, which still would have led to a prison sentence, or not guilty by reason of insanity. President Barack Obama called the drive-by shooting of Pouillon as he stood across from the high school with his graphic sign "deplorable." Anti-abortion activists nationwide hailed him as a hero and hundreds traveled to Owosso's football field for a memorial service. But Pouillon had a rocky reputation in Owosso because of his aggressive, unflinching style. He took his large signs to community events and taunted people who didn't like his tactics. Prosecutors proposed moving the trial away from Shiawassee County because they feared too many potential jurors disliked Pouillon, but a jury was selected without difficulty. Published: Mon, Mar 15, 2010

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