Cusic convicted of second-degree murder for killing his mother

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Linn County jury convicted Edward Cusic of second-degree murder Wednesday for killing his 68-year-old mother on Dec. 7, 2012.

Cusic, 47, was charged with first-degree murder, but after about eight hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of the lesser charge. He didn't show any emotion as the verdict was read - the same demeanor he showed throughout the seven-day trial that started Nov. 30.

Evidence at trial showed Cusic beat to death his mother, Anita Labkon, with a crowbar, according to testimony. He struck Labkon, who prosecutors described as a 'frail” woman with serious health issues, eight times. She had 19 broken bones from the violent attack.

Cusic faces 50 years in prison. He will have to serve 35 years before being eligible for parole. Sentencing is set for Feb. 1.

The family of Labkon, who live in Illinois and Montana, said in a statement they believed the facts of the case supported a first-degree murder conviction, but they respect the jury's decision and thanked them for their service and deliberation. They said they thought if Dr. Michael Taylor, the state's original expert witness, a medical doctor and psychologist, had testified, the verdict would have been first-degree murder.

Taylor of Cumming, who evaluated Cusic, couldn't testify because his wife was seriously ill and he couldn't leave her bedside.

Jesse Oldham, Labkon's son and half-brother of Cusic, who wrote the statement, also wanted to thank the Linn County Attorney Nic Scott and his team, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, responding paramedics, and the Linn County Sheriff's Office for their work on the case and the aid given to Labkon.

'A very special thank you and hug goes to the Horizons Survivors Program for coming alongside our family over the past three years,” Oldham said. 'They are a treasure every Iowan should be proud of and one which is not available in our own states of Illinois and Montana.”

According to testimony last week, Cusic admitted to police and a Gazette reporter that he killed his mother, Anita Labkon, on Dec. 7, 2012. He claimed she was threatening him with a knife or gun.

Cusic claimed diminished capacity and prescription drug intoxication. Arthur Konar, an Ames clinical psychologist, testified Cusic had neuro-cognitive impairment, which resulted in diminished capacity.

Daniel Tranel, University of Iowa neuropsychology professor, disputed Konar's findings, saying Cusic didn't have a brain impairment according to his medical and psychological records.