March 15

Defendants in Maine ax, cleaver attack acquitted

The Associated Press

 

FARMINGTON — A man and woman charged with attacking another couple with an ax and meat cleaver have been acquitted by a Franklin County jury of the most serious charges.

Sherri Dupree of Wilton was found not guilty of felony aggravated assault and two misdemeanor charges of assault.

The Sun Journal reports that Brian Sweeney was cleared of aggravated assault, while the jury deadlocked on two lesser charges of misdemeanor assault.

Prosecutors alleged that an ax-wielding Sweeney and cleaver-wielding Dupree attacked Jeremiah Gattis and his girlfriend at Gattis' Farmington home last April.

The defense said the dispute stemmed from a disagreement over an unfinished tattoo Gattis gave Sweeney.

The defendants said they went to the home to pick up Sweeney's belongings, and Gattis was the aggressor.

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