Man convicted of murder in fight over $400 debt

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) — An Orangeburg County jury has found a 69-year-old man guilty of murder in a shooting that resulted from a fight over a debt of about $400.

The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reports (http://bit.ly/1IcIGLM ) a jury deliberated about two hours Thursday before finding George Hughes guilty in the shooting death of 59-year-old Michael Kemmerlin last November.

Hughes was sentenced to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

He acknowledged shooting the victim five times, but said it was self-defense because he said Kemmerlin was coming at him with a knife.

The victim had once rented a home from Hughes and owed him $410 for back rent.

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Information from: The Times & Democrat, http://www.timesanddemocrat.com