Minn. man guilty of assault in sword stabbing

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) -- A jury has convicted a Duluth man of assault for stabbing his ex-roommate with a sword.

Jurors deliberated more than four hours before finding Kyle McClain guilty of first- and second-degree assault Thursday.

McClain did not deny stabbing Richard Stewart on the night of Feb. 18, but said it was an accident.

Stewart testified he didn't want to walk home during a blizzard, so he went to the house where he used to live and pounded on the door. McClain tried to get Stewart to leave and grabbed a sword because he knew Stewart was intimidated by it.

The prosecutor argued there was no way the weapon could have penetrated Stewart's thick winter jacket and skin without force.

The Duluth News Tribune reports sentencing is set for Dec. 12.

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