SPARTA, Wis. – A jury found a Sparta man guilty in the ax-killing of his step-grandfather. Thomas Aspseter, 38, showed no emotion as the verdict was read. The jury had deliberated only three hours. The charges: First-degree intentional homicide s in the death of 87-year-old Bernard Waite as well as attempted homicide of two others in June 2021 in a rural Sparta house. The prosecution had noted that Aspeseter had called 911 from the house and said he had killed someone. During the trial Aspeter acknowledged hitting his grandfather with an ax.
Earlier: Plea not guilty in Sparta axe murder
Aspseter. He had attempted suicide with a .22-caliber rifle to his throat after calling 911 that he had killed someone. Blood was everywhere when police arrived.
Verbatim from trial
Kevin Croninger, the prosecutor “So you chose to strike a 5-foot-2, 128-pound 87-year-old man in the head with an ax. After striking him once you decided to strike him again? What was the need for the second blow?”
Aspseter: “I honestly wasn’t aware of how dangerous an ax was.”