LOS ANGELES – The actor Michael Jace from the Shield series was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder in killing his wife, April Jace. He shot her dead in 2014 and the couple’s two young children partially witnessed the crime, according to a report by the Associated Press. The actor, who appeared in the film Planet of the Apes, is expected to be sentenced on June 10 to forty years in prison.

The 53-years-old artist has been jailed since he turned himself to police after killing his wife, who was a financial aid counselor at Biola University, as reported by AP. He said during the trial that he was upset that April wanted a divorce and thought she was cheating on him, Deputy District Attorney Tannaz Mokayef declared.

The actor Michael Jace from the Shield was found guilty during his trial on Tuesday
The actor Michael Jace from the Shield was found guilty during his trial on Tuesday on the count of murdering his wife April Jace. Image Credit: ABC News

Those thoughts and feelings led him to take a revolver that belonged to his father in law and shoot his wife first in the back and then twice in the legs. No evidence was presented during the trial that she was having an affair. They were married for nine years and had two boys together, who were 8 and 5 when April died.

Michael, best known for his role as a police officer in the FX series The Shield, decided not to testify in his defense and told detectives shortly after the shooting that he wanted to commit suicide but could not do it. His wife was an avid runner, which is why he then planned to shoot her in the leg to make her feel pain, as he stated in a recorded interview, according to the AP report.

“’If you like running, then run to heaven,’” Jace’s 10-year-old testified that he heard his father say before the second time he shot the mother. A protective order was issued for Michael Jace to stay at least 100 yards away from their sons.

April’s adult son Savoy Brown said the family welcomed the verdict and that it had been difficult for them to watch the actor. He added that he was hopeful Michael Jace will feel emotion when he gets his sentence. The artist only bit his bottom lip while hearing the verdict.

He says he is remorseful, and jurors believe the crime was not premeditated

Michael Jace on his trial for murder earlier this month after evidence was presented during the last week. Photo credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times
Michael Jace on his trial for murder earlier this month after evidence was presented during the last week. Photo credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Jamon Hicks, Jace’s attorney, said his client may speak during his sentence hearing to express how remorseful he is for killing his wife, but he wants to be very careful not to disrespect the woman’s family.

Before the verdict was read, Hicks told jurors Michael Jace admitted he was guilty of shooting his wife death, but he should face charges of “voluntary manslaughter” because passion had led him to commit the crime, according to AP. E! Online reported that Jace’s attorney had argued the actor was meant only to hurt her because she had told him she wanted a divorce.

Jurors discussed the ruling over the weekend and changed the verdict from first-degree to second-degree murder because they believed the shooter had not premeditated the crime.

“I was just angry,” Jace tells investigators in a transcript released Thursday, E! Online reported. “All I intended to do was shoot her in the leg. And then I shot her in the leg and that was it,” he added, soon after he was arrested when police arrived at the family’s home in Hyde Park, following a 911 call LAPD responded.

Source: Washington Post