Jury finds Aspseter guilty of murder and other charges in Sparta ax attack

The verdict is guilty on all counts in a Monroe County murder trial. 

A jury has convicted Thomas Aspseter of Sparta on five charges resulting from an ax attack on three people last year, including his grandmother and her husband, after he was told to move out of their house.

The husband, 87-year-old Bernard Waite, was killed.  Aspseter claimed he struck back in self-defense after Waite hit him.

Jury deliberations on Thursday reportedly lasted about three hours.  Testimony in the trial began on Monday. 

A first-degree murder conviction in Wisconsin leads to an automatic life sentence in prison.  Sentencing is expected about a month from now.