FAYETTEVILLE, AR (KNWA) – A former Razorback football player has been found not guilty of second degree murder in the death of a friend after a night of drinking.
The trial for Joshua Melton, 34, started Monday. According to the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office, the jury handed down its decision Thursday morning.
This was the second murder trial for Melton. Back in July, his first trial ended in a mistrial after multiple jurors were released and there were not enough alternates to continue.
Melton was accused in the death of Michael Gover, 30. Police arrested Melton in August 2013. Officers said he went into a rage after a night of drinking and punched Gover multiple times. Gover was found dead in Melton’s home.
Melton was an offensive lineman for the Razorback Football team from 1998 to 2002.