Nancy Kerrigan's brother guilty of assault

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WOBURN, Mass., May 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan's brother was convicted Wednesday in Massachusetts of assaulting his father during a fight that ended in his death.

A jury acquitted Mark Kerrigan of involuntary manslaughter, The Boston Globe reported. A Middlesex County Superior Court judge scheduled sentencing for Thursday.

Daniel Kerrigan, 70, died of heart failure in January 2010 after an argument with his 48-year-old son. Prosecutors argued Mark caused the death by seizing him by the neck.

Jurors deliberated for part of Monday and all of Tuesday before reaching their verdict Wednesday morning.

"I think this is a fair, reasonable, and just verdict from a contemplative jury," District Attorney Gerry Leone said after the decision.

Members of the Kerrigan family, who supported Mark during the trial, wept and hugged each other as the verdict was read. Brenda Kerrigan testified she would not describe the dispute between her husband and son as a "fight."

Nancy Kerrigan won a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics and a silver medal in 1994, losing the gold in a contentious 5-4 decision. She turned pro, appearing in ice shows and on television, and is now married with three children.

In 1994 Kerrigan was assaulted by a man apparently trying to further the career of a rival, Tonya Harding.