MANCHESTER (AP) – It took jurors less than two hours Tuesday to reject the “mistaken identity” defense put forth by lawyers for Myles Webster and to convict him of attempted murder in the shooting of Manchester police officer Dan Doherty.
Doherty, who went down in a hail of bullets March 21, left the courtroom to thunderous applause as he walked through a gauntlet of police officers lining the corridor.
Webster, 23, formerly of Litchfield, showed no reaction as the guilty verdicts were read but shook his head in the negative as jurors rose to leave the courtroom. Several of his relatives and friends left the courthouse without comment. He is to be sentenced March 28, and could get life in prison.
Doherty said after the verdicts were read that he “absolutely” looks forward to returning to work soon “as long as this never happens again.” He said his recovery from seven bullet holes in his legs and torso has been tough, then he swept an arm toward the crowd of uniformed officers who had packed the courtroom for the verdicts.
“All the people who were standing behind me is what got me through it,” Doherty said.
Webster’s lawyers declined to comment Tuesday, saying they were on their way to meet with him.
In final arguments, defense attorney Robert Swales said Webster didn’t shoot Doherty, and challenged the credibility of witnesses. Swales said police made the case fit the man they had in custody.![]()
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