But an Ocean County jury acquitted 61-one-year-old Jay Goldberg of Little Egg Harbor Township of murder in a verdict returned late Friday afternoon.
Prosecutors claimed Goldberg purposely shot 40-year-old Sarkis Shainian as they argued in Goldberg's home, where the drug production facility was based.
But defense lawyers said Goldberg had acted in self-defense after a drunk and belligerent Shahinian showed up at the residence in the middle of night in April 2009.
Goldberg, who also was convicted on a weapons offense, faces up to 50 years in prison when he's sentenced in May.
