Verdict in murder case of N.Y. trooper run down at high speed

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- A Florida man accused of deliberately driving his vehicle into a New York state trooper who was issuing a ticket has been convicted of first-degree murder.

A jury Friday found Almond Upton, of Melrose, Florida, guilty of the 2014 death of 42-year-old Trooper Christopher Skinner. He faces a possible punishment of from 20 years to life in prison at a Nov. 10 sentencing hearing.

Prosecutors say the trooper was issuing a ticket along Interstate 81 near Binghamton in upstate New York when Upton purposely drove his vehicle at 93 mph into the officer.

Attorneys for the 62-year-old Florida man argued he lacked the mental capacity to understand what he had done. They had hoped the evidence would justify an insanity defense.

However, a psychiatrist who testified for the prosecution argued Upton knew what he was wrong, saying Upton left the scene in a hurry and said to police, "I killed him," reports CBS affiliate WBNG.

Upton showed no emotion as the verdict was handed down, the station reports.

"We are thankful for the jurors and their time. And we just want to thank the community for supporting us through everything," Julie Skinner, the trooper's sister, told the station. "Obviously we are pleased with the verdict and we all miss Chris."