Judges find North Haven woman guilty of murder

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A three-judge panel has rejected self-defense claims by a North Haven woman and convicted her of murder in the 2010 stabbing death of a bartender during a dispute over a pool game wager.

The New Haven Register reports 49-year-old Mary Ames was convicted Wednesday of murdering 47-year-old Christopher Hall at Doran's bar in North Haven. She faces 25 years to life in prison when she is sentenced April 26.

Ames testified that Hall refused to honor a bet that the losing players in the pool game buy drinks for the winners.

She claimed Hall grabbed her by the throat when she tried to pour a drink for her son and she was forced to stab him.

But the judges said evidence showed Ames threatened Hall and lunged at him.

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Information from: New Haven Register