August 8, 2012

Trial begins in Maine 'scare game' shooting

The Associated Press

BELFAST — A 20-year-old Maine man on trial for the fatal shooting of his best friend was known to play a "scare game" in which the two friends pointed guns at each other to get a reaction.

A 911 tape played for jurors in the manslaughter trial Tuesday indicated Luke Bryant of Knox tried to revive 19-year-old Tyler Seaney while Seaney's girlfriend sobbed.

The Bangor Daily News says Bryant initially told police he picked up the .12-gauge shotgun to clean it but later admitted he dry-fired it to scare his friend as he emerged from the bathroom.

Bryant's lawyer says his client didn't know the gun was loaded.

The girlfriend told investigators she'd seen them play the game before.

Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea told jurors that Bryant was negligent in handling the gun and there's no evidence the shooting was intentional. But Bryant still should have known that you don't point guns at people and pull the trigger, Zainea said.

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