Iowa man found guilty of murder in stabbing

Published On: Jan 18 2013 06:19:59 AM CST   Updated On: Jan 18 2013 06:19:00 AM CST
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) -

A Waterloo man has been found guilty of murder in the death of a 23-year-old Mason City man.

The Mason City Globe Gazette reports a Cerro Gordo County jury found James Farnsworth II guilty Thursday of second-degree murder in the slaying of Ian Decker. The 22-year-old man began to cry as the verdict was read.

Prosecutors say Decker received a serious stab wound after a fight with Farnsworth in April. Decker was found lying on the ground and died later at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.

Farnsworth's defense argued he acted in self-defense.

The newspaper reports the conviction carries a mandatory sentence of 50 years in prison. No sentencing date has been set.

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