Langlais found guilty of negligent homicide, but not manslaughter or riot

Jim Unfonak of Rochester; inset Eric Langlais

DOVER - After deliberating about four hours over two days, jurors in the Eric Langlais manslaughter trial found him not guilty of both manslaughter and riot charges, but found him guilty of the lesser charge of negligent homicide.

The verdict came today around 11 a.m. and paves the way for a sentencing on the lesser charge in one or two months, said Assistant County Attorney Tim Sullivan, who prosecuted the case.

Immediately after the verdict Sullivan said he appreciated the work the jury did in listening to and deciding the case during the eight-day trial, but was disappointed for the friends and family of Jim Unfonak, the Rochester man and longtime Bang N Jane drummer who died after he was punched by Langlais and cracked his head open as he fell to the pavement of the parking lot at Gary's Sports Bar around 1:33 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2016. He never regained consciousness and was taken off life support the following day.

Sullivan said he wasn't sure what tipped the scales against a manslaughter conviction but suspected it could have hinged on whether folks truly believe that one punch can actually kill a person.

Defense attorney Joseph Welsh said in closings on Tuesday it just doesn't happen, however Sullivan today disagreed.

"We've seen it (a one punch death) around here at a bar in Portsmouth and other times," Sullivan said. "Let's hope after this people remember it can happen and hope it deters than from (violence)."

Negligent homicide is a Class B felony punishable by up to seven years, while Langlais could've been sentenced up to 30 years on a manslaughter conviction.

This story will be updated.