Man Faces Death For Killing Couple

A jury deliberated only about two hours on Friday before finding James Hairston, 19, guilty of murdering two elderly Downey residents and Hairston could get the death penalty.

Hairston was charged with shooting William “Duke” and Dalma Fuhriman, both 72, in January at their rural home outside Downey.

The state alleged during a two and a half week trial that Hairston killed the Fuhrimans because he and co-defendant Richard Klipfel, 28, had run out of money they stole from a Colorado convenience store a couple of days earlier.

Hairston also was convicted of robbery. Sixth District Judge Pete McDermott scheduled sentencing Nov. 4. He set an aggravation-mitigation hearing to begin Oct. 25. Attorneys will present factors for and against imposition of the death penalty.

Hairston was arrested a few days after the murders, has been in the Bannock County Jail ever since.

Klipfel, the state’s key witness against Hairston, originally was charged with the murders. He reached a plea bargain with the state and will serve at least 20 years in prison.