MAN COPS PLEA BEFORE JURY GIVES VERDICT IN DEATHS

JACKSON, Mo. -- After waiting more than 3 1/2 hours for a jury to reach a verdict, Russell Cline of Perryville, Mo., chose to decide it himself. Cline pleaded guilty in the shooting death of an acquaintance last year and accepted a sentence of 10 years in prison.

Cline, 40, had been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing of William H. Dial, 33, on Feb. 8 in a dispute over money for illegal drugs.

Cline's guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter came at the same time the jury announced it had reached a verdict.

A guilty verdict was anticipated, defense attorney Kent Hall said.

During their deliberations, jurors had sent two notes to Judge John Grimm asking for clarification. One note inquired about the range of punishment for second-degree murder, and the second asked whether prison terms for the two charges against Cline would be served consecutively or concurrently.

"The nature of the questions to the judge led us to believe that they were headed toward a guilty verdict," Hall said.

Conviction for either second-degree murder or armed criminal action demands that at least 85 percent of the sentence be served before parole is available.

Plea brings conclusion

Voluntary manslaughter, punishable by five to 15 years in prison, does not require a specific period of incarceration before parole becomes available.

"It was a compromise for both sides," Hall said.

Perry County prosecutor Thomas Hoeh said he had offered Cline a 10-year sentence in exchange for a guilty plea for the past several months.

At least Cline's plea brought a sense of conclusion to Dial's death, Hoeh said.

"Everybody here needs some finality," he said. "I think today was the first time that Dial's family heard Cline accept the guilt for shooting their son."

Members of Cline's family in the courtroom cried and uttered "he didn't do it" as Cline pleaded guilty.

On Wednesday, witness Terry Reed was threatened by Dawn Cline, the defendant's wife. Reed had come to court to testify that the defendant had asked to borrow his .22-caliber revolver minutes before the shooting, and immediately after attempted to return it.

Reed told police Dawn Cline had yelled "You're dead" to him as he walked to the courthouse for the first day of the trial. She was arrested and charged with witness tampering, a felony.

William Dial Sr. had something to say to Cline as bailiffs took him from the courtroom after his guilty plea. He told Cline he forgives him.

"If I hold hatred in my heart toward him, God will hold hatred against me when I appear before him," said Dial, 62.

Dial, who said he lost a 21-year-old son in a fatal highway wreck, still thinks Cline should be punished for shooting his 33-year-old son.

"As a parent, you feel like 500 years in prison would not be enough," Dial said, "but God's my boss, so I forgive him."