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Man Found Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter In Detective Murder Case

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- There's a decision in the trial of a man charged with killing an off-duty police detective. 

Weijia Jiang reports jurors found Sian James guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

James testified he threw a concrete block at Detective Brian Stevenson in self-defense during a dispute over a parking space.  Stevenson was out celebrating his birthday in Canton when he and James got into an argument. 

James said the rock-throwing was self-defense and he thought the officer was going to shoot him.  He said the officer was threatening him and his friend.

"Facts indicated he was surrounded, he feared for the life of his friends and his life," said defense attorney John Denholm.

Jurors found James not guilty of first- and second-degree murder and not guilty of voluntary manslaughter. 

Stevenson's family say this is not the outcome they were hoping for.  They were stunned and broke down in the courtroom.

The sentencing is set for July. James faces a maximum penalty of 10 years.

Stevenson was an 18-year veteran of the police department.  He leaves behind a wife and four children.

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