UPDATED: Jury Reaches Verdict in Road-Rage Shooting Death

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This story has been updated:

A jury has convicted Martin Edward Zale of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting death of Derek Flemming last September.

Michigan.com is reporting that the Livingston County jury’s decision came after Zale admitted in testimony that he intended to kill Flemming, the father of two, when he confronted him about his driving while the two vehicles were stopped at a stop signa at Grand River Avenue at Chilson Road in Howell on Sept. 2.

Flemming reportedly punched him in the face and made other threats, according to testimony during the trial that began Monday. Zale admitted under cross examination that he planned to kill Flemming, but argued he acted in self-defense when he reached for his 9mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol placed on the seat of his pickup and pulled the trigger.

Zale claimed Flemming was “hitting” and “pounding” his truck, so he put down his window to confront him. Flemming reportedly continued to threaten to beat him.

“As he’s yelling all this, he’s reaching in my truck,” Zale said, according to a report on WWJ/CBS Detroit.

“When you pulled that trigger, you had every intention to kill that man at that moment, correct?” Rose asked.

“I was defending myself,” Zale said.

Zale had been charged with first-degree, premeditated murder. The Livingston County Prosecutor’s office said that he was safely inside of his Dodge Ram pickup and could have rolled up the window and left instead of shooting the victim.

Zales attorney, Melissa Pearce, told the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus that his family is disappointed and does not understand the verdict. They’re encouraging him to file an appeal.

The jury deliberated for two days before returning the verdict. Zale will be sentenced June 5 by Judge Miriam Cavanaugh.

Also on this topic:

• Little Girl’s Heartbreaking Discovery after Her Daddy is Killed in Road Rage
• Driver Shoots Another in Apparent Road Rage
• Attorney Arguing Self-Defense in Deadly Road Rage: ‘Whole Story Has Not Been Heard’
• Report: Defendant, Victim Both Had History of Road Rage
• ‘Don’t Go,’ Amy Flemming Recalls Pleading After Deadly Road Rage Shooting
• Judge: Prior Road Rage Evidence OK at Murder Trial

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Photo composite: Livingston County Sheriff and Facebook