Lawyer is convicted in home-invasion attack on law firm managing partner and his wife
Virginia lawyer Andrew Schmuhl was convicted of all charges on Tuesday for forcing his way into the home of a law firm managing partner, and then attacking the partner and his wife over the course of three hours.
Schmuhl was convicted of aggravated malicious wounding, abduction with pecuniary benefit, using a firearm during a felony, and burglary, the Washington Post reports. Jurors in Fairfax County, Virginia, deliberated seven hours before returning the verdict.
Schmuhl testified he can’t remember the November 2014 attack and said painkillers and other prescription drugs he was taking caused “weirdness on top of weirdness.” He was accused of attacking the managing partner, Leo Fisher, and his wife, Susan Duncan, after Fisher fired Schmuhl’s lawyer wife from his Arlington law firm, Bean, Kinney & Korman.
Fisher testified that Schmuhl used a stun gun on him, slashed his neck and stabbed him. Schmuhl asked about a murder-for-hire plot involving a Mexican drug cartel, forced Fisher to log on to his work email, and asked Fisher where he kept cash and gold. He fired his gun at Duncan, grazing her head with a bullet, cut her and slashed her neck. Schmuhl fled after Duncan was able to trigger an alarm.
In a statement, the Bean Kinney law firm said it was grateful that the guilty verdicts can “mark the beginning of closure” for Fisher and Duncan.
“This was a horrific ordeal no one can fully grasp,” the statement said. “We appreciate the enormous effort made by the Commonwealth’s Attorney and his office to present a compelling case that has produced a just result, and the hard work of the law enforcement professionals who brought the facts to light. We trust that the jury will now recommend a sentence commensurate with the defendant’s atrocities.
“The firm remains deeply indebted to its friends, clients, colleagues and fellow professionals for their constant well-wishes and support throughout this process.”
