Hearing for man accused in November killing is delayed

A Cloquet man who allegedly shot and killed his friend after a night of drinking in November appeared in St. Louis County Sixth District Court Thursday, Jan. 16.

Thomas Allen Micklewright, 44, faces charges of second-degree felony murder, without intent, in the shooting of James Arthur Couture.

Judge Shaun Floerke rescheduled the Jan. 16 omnibus hearing to April 6, because the prosecution is still waiting for DNA test results and other follow up.

According to the criminal complaint, officers from the Fond du Lac Police Department and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to Micklewright’s home on the 3500 block of Brevator Road at approximately 5 a.m. Nov. 9. While the home is only about four miles from the Fond du Lac Reservation’s business center, it lies across the county line in Brevator Township and St. Louis County, which is why the case is being prosecuted in Duluth.

Micklewright’s wife initiated the call to 911, but — according to the complaint — Micklewright admitted to the dispatcher during the call that he intentionally shot the Couture with a .40 caliber pistol. He would not say why he shot the 65-year-old Couture.

When officers arrived, they found Couture in the kitchen and confirmed that he was dead. They did not find any weapons on Couture. Officers detained Micklewright and secured the scene without incident.

Law enforcement later learned that Micklewright and his wife were hosting Couture and his wife throughout the night, and that each couple had been consuming alcohol. A breath test administered to Micklewright at 11 a.m., approximately six hours later, revealed a .20 breath alcohol concentration.

A preliminary medical examiner report determined the cause of death was a perforating gunshot wound and ruled the death a homicide.

Micklewright’s defense attorneys, David Keegan and Mikkel Long, said Micklewright would enter a “not guilty” defense and intends to claim self-defense if the case goes to trial, the Duluth News Tribune reported.

Couture, who was also known as “Weasel,” was survived by his wife, six children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.