11:35 p.m. — After some 4 1/2 hours of deliberations, a Casey Circuit Court jury has found Bruce Hadley guilty of Manslaughter 2nd Degree and recommended a 5-year prison sentence. Formal sentencing has been scheduled for December 15th at 9:00 a.m.
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A jury in Casey County is deliberating in the murder trial of Phillip Bruce Hadley, who is accused of fatally shooting his son, Jordan Hadley, in Adair County earlier this year.
Following three and a half days of testimony, jurors received their instructions and began deliberations around 5:50 Friday evening, Central Time.
The jury was instructed to consider five possible verdicts: not guilty, murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter or reckless homicide. Hadley claimed self-defense.
The shooting occurred January 13th in the backyard of a residence on Highway 55 South in Adair County. According to an arrest citation filed by Kentucky State Police Detective B. J. Burton, Hadley told investigators his adult son had shoved him during an argument earlier that day.
Hadley said another confrontation occurred later at his mother’s residence, where Jordan allegedly shoved him twice and approached him a third time. Hadley told investigators he then drew a .40 caliber handgun and shot his son.
According to the citation, Hadley said he thought Jordan was reaching for a handgun, although he never saw one. Investigators reported finding no handgun on Jordan or near the shooting scene. A witness corroborated the argument and reported seeing Jordan shove his father before the shooting.
Jordan Hadley was transported to T. J. Sampson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An Adair County grand jury indicted Phillip Bruce Hadley on a murder charge March 6th.
Circuit Judge Judy Vance Murphy moved the trial to Casey County after there were not enough qualified jurors in Adair Circuit Court on Monday. Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Wright prosecuted the case.
WJRS News will provide an update when the jury reaches a verdict.