A man who claimed a sleep disorder caused him to shoot his wife to death was convicted Friday night of murder.
Michael Ricksgers, a 37-year-old welder, showed no emotion when the jury announced its verdict after about 41/2 hours of deliberations. He faces up to life in prison.Ricksgers said he was sleepwalking the morning of Dec. 26 when he fired the shot that killed his wife, Janet. Defense lawyers argued that the disorder sleep apnea depleted Ricksgers' oxygen and caused strange behavior.
"The verdict is not consistent with the medical evidence," lawyer Louis Ceraso said.
Another defense lawyer, Irving Green, said in closing arguments that Ricksgers should never have been charged because he didn't flee, hide evidence or intend to kill his wife.
But Assistant District Attorney David Hepting argued that Janet Ricksgers had planned to leave her husband after the holiday.
Ricksgers has said his wife slept with the .357-caliber Magnum pistol under her pillow because he worked late. But Janet Ricksgers' sister testified during the week-long trial that the gun was kept in a bedroom drawer.