Wisconsin Rapids City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • News
    • Around the County
    • Government
  • Covid 19
  • Community
    • Community Calendar
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
    • Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obits
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
  • Business Directory
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Wisconsin Rapids City Times

  • News
    • Around the County
    • Government
  • Covid 19
  • Community
    • Community Calendar
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
    • Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obits
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
  • Business Directory
Top Stories
Home›Top Stories›Kusters Found Guilty of First-Degree Reckless Homicide

Kusters Found Guilty of First-Degree Reckless Homicide

By Julie Schooley
November 8, 2017
1438
0
Share:
Mark Kusters is led away in handcuffs shortly following his guilty verdict. (City Times Photo)

By Joe Bachman
Editor

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — A jury came to a verdict on the fate of 59-year-old Mark Kusters, charged with the murder of 42-year-old Richard Flynn on Wednesday afternoon.

Guilty of first-degree reckless homicide.

The verdict came at approximately 2:30 p.m. after over two hours of deliberation. Kusters was found guilty on one of five possible charges, starting at first-degree and second-degree intentional homicide, then to first-degree and second-degree reckless homicide; and lastly, negligent homicide.

District Attorney Craig Lambert during his closing statements. (City Times Photo)

While both District Attorney Craig Lambert and Defense Attorney Gary Kryshak declined to comment afterwards, it was clear that this case took an emotional toll on both sides, both of whom painted different pictures of the night of Sept. 15, 2016, where Flynn was shot with a model 835 Mossberg shotgun that would end his life less than two hours later.

“First-degree intentional homicide means he intended to kill,” said Kryshak in his closing statements to the jury. “There is not one iota of evidence that Mark Kusters intended to kill anyone.”

The defense weighed their case on the testimony of Kusters that his wife Trina, who admitted to having an affair with Flynn less than a month prior, scratched her husband and pulled his collar back in an attempt to push away the shotgun during the altercation between Kusters and Flynn. This alleged action would coincidentally trigger it to fire in the direction of Flynn, who was a mere 50 feet away at the time on the Kusters’ property.

However, the prosecution pointed out through various threats made towards Flynn, as well as recorded audio inside a police vehicle after the shooting in which Kusters himself said “Yeah, I f—cking shot his ass” as enough evidence to prove intent to kill.

“He was mad enough to put Flynn as “DEADBOY” in his phone,” said Lambert to the jury during his closing statements. “He told Flynn he was going to kill him — and he did.”

While the jury ultimately agreed with the defense on such a notion, they found Kusters ultimately responsible for the death of Flynn, which still carries life-altering penalties under law. First-degree reckless homicide is a class B felony, meaning Kusters could be sentenced to up to 60 years imprisonment.

Kusters’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23 of next year. For details on the prior two days worth of court proceedings, check out Kusters Homicide Trial Begins Today, Opening Statements and Second Day of Kusters Homicide Trial, Defense and Prosecution Rest

TagsFeatured
Previous Article

Mid-State to Share Information to Help High ...

Next Article

WFHR Radiothon To Support United Way

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Community

    City Gives Nod to Improve Library Bathrooms

    May 2, 2018
    By Julie Schooley
  • Sports

    Player Spotlight: No. 1 Ranked Wide Receiver Isaiah Westfall

    August 11, 2017
    By Julie Schooley
  • Arts & Entertainment

    Rapid Fire: Halloween Edition

    October 25, 2017
    By Julie Schooley
  • Top Stories

    Nekoosa Teen Charged with Battery

    November 3, 2015
    By admin
  • Sports

    Rafters drop close game to Mallards

    July 3, 2018
    By kleonhardt
  • Community

    A Toast to Great Futures Tickets Now on Sale

    March 15, 2018
    By Julie Schooley

About Us


Wisconsin Rapids City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • April 15, 2021

    Marshfield Clinic Health System accepting applications for behavioral health grants

  • April 14, 2021

    Wautoma man in jail following Adams County pursuit

  • April 13, 2021

    Wisconsin Rapids man hit by train

  • April 13, 2021

    DNR seeks feedback on Nekoosa Safe Drinking Water Loan project

  • April 12, 2021

    Rafters pitching staff gains two new arms

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×