Ammon Reich convicted of second-degree murder in student's death

ADA, Okla. (AP) _ A jury has recommended life in prison for a Konawa man convicted of second-degree murder and multiple counts of assault and battery. <br/><br/>A 12-member jury convicted Ammon Reich Friday

Friday, August 5th 2005, 5:03 pm

By: News On 6

ADA, Okla. (AP) _ A jury has recommended life in prison for a Konawa man convicted of second-degree murder and multiple counts of assault and battery.

A 12-member jury convicted Ammon Reich Friday in the September 19th death of 18-year-old East Central University football player Joseph Tusan. Tusan died and several other ECU students were injured during the racially-charged, hit-and-run incident.

Formal sentencing is scheduled August 30th.

Prosecutors say Reich rammed a pickup truck carrying Tusan and other students after a racially-charged argument along the Canadian River near Ada. Reich is white and Tusan was black.

Reich testified in his own defense Friday and says he did not intend to kill Tusan. He says he didn't intend to ram into the truck, but just wanted to ease into it.