Lane College student convicted in security guard murder www.privateofficer.com

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Madison County TN May 6 2012 A former Lane College student on trial for first-degree murder was convicted Friday in the Madison County Circuit Court of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in the 2010 slaying of a convenience store security guard.

Roger McPherson, who authorities said shot and killed Michael Bell in the parking lot of Lane Express Mart in 2010, could have been sentenced to life in prison if he had been convicted of the initial charge. His bond was lowered from $150,000 to $50,000 Friday.

Because voluntary manslaughter is a class C felony and McPherson has no prior felony history, he can only receive a sentence of three to six years, which includes time served since his arrest on Nov. 5, 2010.

According to Tennessee state law, McPherson is eligible for release when he has served 30 percent of his time, meaning he could walk away free on his June 29 sentencing date, according to attorneys in the case.

Daniel Taylor, one of the defense attorneys who represented McPherson, said the defense argued that McPherson shot Bell in self-defense and that he believed the evidence the defense showed the jury resulted in the lesser charge.

“Our client went to trial on a first-degree murder charge, which is the most serious charge there is,” he said. “We didn’t believe it was a first- or second-degree murder. We felt the actions of the deceased led to adequate provocation on the part of my client.”

Taylor said the defense and prosecution played the surveillance videos of the incident several times, frame by frame, and called witnesses.

He said the defense argued that Bell had robbed McPherson once before and pointed a gun at his head and that when the two men met one another outside the store, located at 369 Lane Ave., an altercation occurred.

In the video, Bell is shown displaying what appears to be a deadly weapon and a BB gun was found later in the area of the shooting that resembled a deadly weapon, Taylor said.

He said he thought the jury’s verdict was adequate, and he spoke with McPherson after the trial and McPherson understands the verdict and the rationale of the jury.