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Nicolae Miu was convicted Thursday after fatally stabbing a high school student and injuring four others during a fight on a Wisconsin river that he said was self-defense.
Miu and the others had been tubing on the Apple River on July 30, 2022 when a fight broke out, which resulted in the death of Isaac Schuman, 17.
After eight days in court and 40 witnesses’ testimony, Miu was convicted of reckless homicide, battery and four counts of recklessly endangering safety.
Investigators wrote in court documents that Minnesota native Miu attacked the group after people accused him of approaching children in the water with a snorkel and goggles – but Miu said that he was looking for a cellphone in the water, and that he attacked the group out of self-defense, according to the Associated Press.
Miu and his attorneys argue that he was acting in self-defense in a “13 against one” fight. (Star Tribune/AP)
In addition to outlining moments where Miu could have walked away, prosecutors questioned why Miu initially lied to law enforcement – initially, NBC Chicago reported, he told police that one of the two boys in the group pulled out a knife.
Miu later admitted this was a lie: “As you can see, I was very confused,” Miu said in court, according to the outlet.
“Justice for Isaac,” said Isaac Schuman’s father Donny Hernandez as he tears up while talking to the media alongside Schuman’s mother, Alina Hernandez, left, and other family after Nicolae Miu’s guilty verdict on Thursday. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP)
The case largely hinged on witness cellphone video that recorded part of the altercation – jurors reportedly asked to see the footage again before delivering their verdict, NBC Chicago reported.
Defense attorney Aaron Nelson said he was “respectfully disappointed” by Thursday’s verdict, and that Miu was “sad, obviously disappointed” and “contemplating his future life,” according to the AP.
Schuman was heading into his senior year at Stillwater High School – his family described him as an honor roll student who was preparing to apply to several universities and study electrical engineering.
Miu’s sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
