HARTLAND, Wis. (Court TV) – A Wisconsin man who confronted another man because he didn’t like his tattoos has been found guilty of felony murder and aggravated battery.
Kevin Sehmer’s booking photo. (Waukesha County Sheriff’s Dept.)
One June 17, 2023, Joshua Davies and his wife were at a wine bar when they were allegedly approached by Kevin Sehmer, unprovoked. Sehmer, 64, had reportedly said something about Davies’ tattoos being a sin and said he was going to hell.
According to court documents obtained by Court TV, Davies and his wife got up to leave the bar to avoid a scene, but Sehmer followed them, punching Davies in the face. Davies, 39, lost consciousness and hit the ground, striking the back of his head on the concrete.
When police arrived, Davies was slipping in and out of consciousness on the sidewalk. He was rushed to the hospital where he had to be intubated upon arrival. ER staff quickly realized Davies’ injuries were far more devastating than they thought: He had two skull fractures on the back of his head and an active brain bleed in several areas.
Davies was admitted to the ICU. He died from his injuries 27 days later.
According to a criminal complaint, Sehmer told the Hartland Police Department he “lost his cool” when Davies said something to him. He claimed he was protecting himself when he pushed the victim because he thought Davies and another bar patron were poised to attack him with barstools. Surveillance footage from the bar, however, contradicts Sehmer’s account, according to investigators.
Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Oppeer initially charged Sehmer with aggravated battery and released him on $1,500 bail; but a felony murder count was added upon Davies’ death and bail was increased. Court TV fans (“Courties”) will remember Opper from the case against Darrell Brooks . She was the prosecutor on the Deadly Parade Crash Trial , which Court TV covered.
Sehmer faces 30 years in prison when he’s sentenced on Sept. 6.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 2 – 7/31/24
- In a clear and audible recorded police interview that could be played without captions, Kevin Sehmer gave two accounts of the moment he used force against Josh Davies, but denies throughout that he ever punched Davies.
- First, Sehmer said Davies and Davies’ friend, Bryan Richardson, threatened him with bar stools raised, prompting Sehmer to “push” Davies, who subsequently fell to the ground. Later on in the interview, Sehmer said he “violently” pushed the stool into Josh Davies, causing Davies to fall to the ground.
- Sehmer’s account, which prosecutors played at the end of the day, gave the jury yet another version of events to consider after hearing different accounts from other people who were present for the clash.
- Bystander and musician Jon LaPorte, who was packing up his equipment after playing a set at the bar where the altercation occurred, said he saw Sehmer throw a stool in the street then take a swing at Josh Davies. He’s the only person to say Sehmer threw a stool.
- The victim’s wife, Jen Davies, said she saw Davies “chuck” the stool at Sehmer in self-defense before Sehmer punched Davies.
- Davies’ friend, Laura Burke, said she saw Davies pick up the stool but didn’t see what happened next.
- Bryan Richardson, Davies’ friend, said he didn’t see Davies pick up the stool but saw it on the ground next to Davies after Sehmer punched him.
- The jury saw video of the verbal altercation inside the bar and portions of the confrontation outside the bar.
- A alcohol forensic consultant testified out of order for the defense about how Davies’ elevated blood alcohol levels could have impaired his motor vehicle skills.
DAY 1 – 7/30/24
- Opening statements were delivered by the defense and prosecution
- The State’s first witness was a police officer who was on the scene
Most Popular
Comments / 0