July 2nd 2024.
On a Monday, Thomas Addington was once again found guilty of second-degree murder in the tragic shooting death of 40-year-old Amanda Yellico. This verdict came after his second trial, as his previous conviction had been overturned due to a legal issue with the jury instructions.
The jury had reached their decision after just five hours of deliberation, and they also concluded that Addington did not act in a provoked or sudden fit of passion. During an interview with the police, Addington revealed that Yellico had been staying at his house for about a month before the incident. However, tensions arose when he asked her to leave as she was not helping with household chores, which made him angry.
On the day of the shooting, Addington believed that Yellico and some men were planning to rob his home and take it from him. He also claimed that she had taken his phone and refused to give it back, leaving him unable to call for help. As a result, he retreated to his basement, but eventually heard voices upstairs. In a state of fear, he warned Yellico that he would shoot if they did not leave. When he heard the voices once again, he fired several shots through the floor as a warning.
During the closing statements, Addington's defense attorney emphasized that his client was simply trying to protect himself and his home. He argued that Addington had shown kindness by allowing Yellico to stay with him during the winter when others had turned her away. Neighbors also testified that Yellico had been acting aggressively and erratically, making them afraid to confront her. Despite Addington's repeated attempts to expel her from his home, she had returned and even attempted to break in.
The defense attorney also stressed that Addington's shots were meant as a warning, not as a deliberate attempt to harm Yellico. The next day, a friend of Addington's discovered Yellico's lifeless body in the kitchen. When the police questioned Addington, he was in a state of shock and claimed to have no knowledge of the incident. The defense argued that since Addington did not knowingly kill Yellico, he should not be convicted of second-degree murder.
However, the deputy district attorney, Wendy Owens, argued that Addington's actions were indeed conscious and deliberate. She pointed out that he had used a .308 rifle to shoot through the floor, ultimately causing Yellico's death. Owens also highlighted the fact that Yellico had been a friend of Addington's and had been invited to live with him. On the night of her death, Addington had fired warning shots, instructed her to go to bed, and then retreated to the basement. However, a few hours later, he had once again fired shots through the ceiling and then went to sleep.
Owens argued that Addington was fully aware that his actions could result in Yellico's death. She also noted that his actions did not align with the affirmative defenses listed in the jury instructions. Yellico had been living at Addington's house, had her own room and received mail there, and did not consider herself an intruder. Instead of telling her to leave, Addington had told her to go to bed and even told her to be quiet.
The prosecution's argument was that Addington's actions were not in self-defense, but rather a deliberate and calculated attempt to harm Yellico. They argued that he was not in immediate danger and that any use of unlawful force was provoked by Addington himself. The sentencing for Thomas Addington is scheduled for September 27th, and the community continues to mourn the loss of Amanda Yellico.
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