Mandan Manslaughter Suspect Testifies in Own Defense

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A Mandan man on trial for manslaughter in the death of another man after a house party fight last year says the man was his friend and he was trying to help him.

Twenty-three-year-old Colten Towry is accused of punching 30-year-old Derek Oshkeshequoam at the October 2012 party. Oshkeshequoam fell and hit his head on pavement, and died days later at a hospital.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that Towry took the stand in his own defense on Wednesday. He said he was trying to break up a fight between Oshkeshequoam and another man when the incident happened.

The case could go to the jury as early as Thursday.