CHESTER, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina man who said he fired a gun at another driver four years ago when she threw a melon at his car was convicted for attempted murder.
Richard F. Dixon, 67, will serve 18 months in prison plus three years of probation for that charge and malicious damage to property, The Herald reported. A jury found him guilty of both charges Thursday following a three-day trail in Chester County, according to court records.
Prosecutor Candice Lively said the victim denied in court throwing the honeydew melon at Dixon’s car during the November 2016 incident on Interstate 77.
“This is his concern?’ Lively argued in court while holding up a melon. “A vicious honeydew melon?”
The prosecutor continued, saying that Dixon had intended to kill the victim that day when he struck her car. But defense attorney John Meadors pushed back and said Dixon only fired in self-defense after the victim repeatedly tried to block his car and threw the melon.
“She brought on the difficulty,” Meadors argued. “She threw a melon while traveling at 70 miles per hour.”
South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Brian Gibbons lowered the 20-year prison sentence for attempted murder against Dixon. A civil lawsuit that was filed against him by the victim remains pending.
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