BRIGHTON, Colo.—A Denver-area software executive has been convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting of his former business partner.
Denver’s KMGH-TV reports that an Adams County jury deliberated about two hours Friday before convicting 58-year-old Rex Fowler in the December 2009 shooting of Thomas Ciancio (CHONCH-oh). He was sentenced to life in prison.
Authorities say Ciancio left Fowler Software Design over business disagreements and was shot when he went to pick up a severance check. The jury had to decide if Fowler was guilty of first- or second-degree murder.
Police say Ciancio had three gunshot wounds to the head. Fowler also was shot in the head, but he survived.
The judge didn’t allow information about Fowler’s possible donations to the Church of Scientology that authorities say prompted a business dispute.
———
Information from: KMGH-TV,
