Louisa man found not guilty in assault case

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65 year-old man slit throat of assailant in self defense, Lawrence jury says;

Blackburn found 'not guilty' in First degree assault charge...

LOUISA, Ky. -- A Lawrence County man was found not guilty span of First Degree Assault charges Tuesday afternoon after a Lawrence County jury reached an unanimous decision that he acted in self defense.

James BlackburnJames Blackburn, 66, of Sunset Acres Drive, Louisa was accused of first degree assault after he slashed Joshua Wilson's throat during a birthday party on Saturday night, October 29, 2011. If Blackburn had been found guilty he faced a punishment of 10 to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

According the original press release from the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to Sunset Acres just off US 23 to a  E911 call around 9:30 p.m. the caller told the dispatcher that a male had been cut across his throat.

When police arrived they found that Wilson, 27, of Fort Gay, W.Va. had his throat cut and immediately was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center before being flown to Cabell Huntington Hospital for surgery. Wilson survived the injury.

After talking to witnesses at the scene, Deputy William Mynhier arrested  Blackburn.

Witnesses reported that after an altercation between Wilson and Blackburn, Blackburn produced a knife and cut Wilson across his throat.

Police did not say what the fight was about, however, Blackburn had been charged with first degree assault and was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.

He was indicted on the charges in November by the Lawrence County Grand Jury.

Witnesses at trial said the fight between the two was initiated by Wilson and that Blackburn was acting in self defense.

After hearing testimony, Blackburn was found not guilty by reason of self protection.