The jury in a murder trial in southeast Iowa returned a verdict this morning. A 51-year-old Ottumwa woman has been found not guilty of murder in Wapello County District Court in Ottumwa.
Sheri Locke was charged in connection with last year’s death of Charles Denim. He was shot several times at Locke’s home. The jury of nine men and seven women deliberated one day before returning the verdict.
The trial lasted almost three weeks. The prosecution maintained Locke knew what she was doing when she pulled the trigger but the defense argued it was an accidental defensive shooting.