BOULDER, Colo. — Boulder prosecutors dropped a manslaughter case against a man after new evidence gave a possible self-defense claim more merit. Autopsy results also contributed to the district attorney’s decision.
Back in July, Brian Farrar, 21, was arrested and originally faced a first-degree murder charge in the death of Terry Shipman, 51, after a physical confrontation between the two men outside of a Circle K gas station in Boulder. The charges were later changed to manslaughter.
However, the Boulder District Attorney’s Office filed a motion Monday to drop the case after video evidence showed the altercation was not deadly and that autopsy results revealed Shipman’s methamphetamine use combined with a heart condition likely contributed to his death, according to a report in the Boulder Daily Camera.
The newspaper reported that further investigation revealed the confrontation began after Shipman mistakenly believed Farrar stole his bicycle. However, prosecutors said Shipman’s bike was taken by somebody else and given to Farrar, thus giving Farrar a legal right to defend property he thought he owned.
