*Update* Beccue Found Guilty

**UPDATED**

Alexander Beccue, 25 of St. Peter, has been found guilty of 2nd Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon by a Fayette County Jury this afternoon.  The jury deliberated for almost three hours before returning the guilty verdict. 

Closing arguments were heard this morning as Beccue was on trial for the murder of Joshua Smith of Ramsey.

Beccue took the stand in his own defense on Thursday after the prosecution rested earlier in the day.

Beccue said he “freaked out” when he saw Smith and Chelsi Beesley sitting at Beesley’s kitchen table in Ramsey loading a magazine clip from a .22 caliber gun even though he said he knew it was unloaded.

Beccue said at that point he pulled a .38 revolver that was in his waistband and shot Smith. On further questioning, Beccue admitted his actions were an “overreaction” and said he wished he would have just left the home. In earlier testimony, Beccue discussed his past drug usage and the paranoia and hallucinations he experienced including the night of the shooting. He claimed he had been robbed during a previous incident by Beesley. Beccue said he feared Beesley and Smith would hurt him based on a conversation he heard that night and voices in his head. However, Beccue said he considered Smith a friend.

The defense did not call any additional witnesses but did have a portion of the videotaped interview with Beesley recorded by State Police replayed to the jury.

Before the prosecution rested earlier in the day, Beesley was called to the witness stand and explained turning around while trying to clean up the kitchen and seeing Beccue pointing a gun at Smith as he sat at the kitchen table. Beelsey then said Beccue shoot Smith in the left side of the head.

Beesley said she asked Beccue to help or leave and he left the residence as she ran upstairs to hide in a closet and called the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department. 

The jury was read instructions by Judge Don Sheafor before deliberations began just before 11 this morning.

The five-day trial began with jury selection on Monday. Beccue will be sentenced on August 28th at nine am.