Man Who Killed Ex’s Roommate Found Guilty

Now it comes down to sentencing.

In a rather unusual circumstance, both the prosecution and defense agreed Grant Scantling shot Franklin Palmer, but disagreed on the motivation or whether it was premeditated.

The jury found the Kennewick man guilty of First Degree Murder Thursday in Benton County Superior Court.

The defense argued the number of shots fired by the suspect did not warrant premeditation, and he should have faced 2nd Degree charges instead.

Scantling is likely facing life in prison; court documents show he is set to be sentenced Sept. 19. Franklin was the roommate of Scantling's ex-fiance, Anne Krebs.

It is not known what will happen with allegations of witness tampering by Scantling raised at the beginning of the trial based on taped phone conversations and witness information where he allegedly attempted to influence witnesses in the trial.