Jury Deliberations Continue In St. Croix River Stabbing Trial

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- We are still waiting and watching to see what a jury in the case of a fatal stabbing along the St. Croix River has decided.

The jury that is deciding the fate 20-year-old Levi Acre-Kendall of Cambridge spent hours deliberating Sunday after hearing closing arguments in the trial on Saturday. Jurors could not reach a verdict before 8 p.m. and were sequestered to a hotel for the night. They'll be back in court Monday morning to continue deliberating.

Jurors must decide if Acre-Kendall acted in self-defense last April when he fatally stabbed 34 year old Peter Kelly of St. Croix Falls, Wis. A confrontation between two groups of fishermen on the banks of the river led to Kelly's death.

After more than 15 hours of deliberation and no verdict, the hold-up may be a third charge that was added during court proceedings Saturday by Polk County District Attorney Dan Steffen. The charge, second-degree reckless homicide, came after emotional closing arguments. That includes a maximum prison term of 25 years.

Acre-Kendall had already been charged with first-degree reckless homicide and second-degree intentional homicide. Each of those charges carries a maximum prison term of 60 years. Acre-Kendall was emotional Saturday when Steffen asked him questions on the stand, recalling what happened.

If a verdict is not reached by 8 p.m. Sunday, jurors will be sequestered again to a hotel and will continue deliberations Monday morning.