Drunken Portland bartender, 44, is convicted of shooting boyfriend dead after booze-fueled argument over the meaning of THANKSGIVING before she fled and crashed car
- Barbara Michel, 44, shot and killed Justin Williams, 41, outside a tavern last year after the two got into a heated argument over Thanksgiving.
- The jury found her guilty of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
- Michelle will be sentenced early next week
A Portland bartender was found guilty of murdering his boyfriend after a heated argument over the meaning of Thanksgiving.
Barbara Michel, 44, shot and killed Justin Williams, 41, outside the Bluebird Tavern in Portland last year after the two got into an argument over alcohol.
Williams died two days later at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.
She was arrested immediately upon police arrival at the scene and appeared in Multnomah County District Court.
Michelle explained that she acted in self-defense, but the jury found it inappropriate.
They found her guilty of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, as well as driving while intoxicated.
She will be sentenced early next week.
A Portland bartender was found guilty of murdering her boyfriend after a heated argument over the meaning of Thanksgiving (pictured: victim Justin Williams)
Barbara Michel, 44, shot and killed Justin Williams, 41, outside the Bluebird Tavern in Portland last year after the two got into an argument over alcohol.
Michelle testified that after her bartending shift at the Perch Tavern ended, she waited for her new boyfriend to see him.
According to the killer, Williams was annoyed that she did not answer the phone after he arrived, but surveillance footage showed that they were both happily drinking soon after.
The couple then drove to the Bluebird Tavern, where Williams was a regular, to continue drinking.
She went on to tell the court that a Native American couple began arguing about the meaning of Thanksgiving.
The attorneys said there was a difference of opinion because Michele did not celebrate Thanksgiving, but Williams did.
Michelle claimed she tried to de-escalate the situation and said: “He kept poking me. He was rude. So rude. He just kept standing over me.”
But the footage showed Michelle leaning towards Williams and gesturing in his face as he stood passively in the corner.
Officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 8700 block of North Lombard Street.
A witness said that during the arrest, Williams and Michelle were asked to leave the bar when they began arguing loudly and appeared drunk.
Prosecutors noted Michelle’s last words as she left the tavern were, “I’m going to kill him.”
Although Michelle said the tavern bartender’s comment was “annoyed humor,” Deputy District Attorney Melissa Marrero told jurors, “Jokes like that aren’t funny when a man is dying.”
Camera footage shows the couple pushing each other.
At the same time, two bystanders told police that the couple continued to argue and Michelle eventually pulled a revolver from her purse and screamed that she would “rip his head off.”
Defense lawyer Joshua McCain told the court Michelle told Williams to stay away from her while she held the gun, but he stepped forward and she fired a warning shot into the ground.
“He still hasn’t stopped attacking her,” McCain said.
Michelle then shot Williams in the chest as he took another step forward and the bullet struck his spine.
“You can’t shoot someone just because you were pushed,” Marrero said. “She brought a gun to the fight.”
Next week the court could sentence Michelle to at least 10 years in prison.