(Updated 1:25 p.m. MDT, 07/30/23)
BOZEMAN — After three days of deliberations, the jury in the murder trial of a Three Forks man was only able to reach a partial verdict.
The jury found Zach Norman, the man accused of shooting and killing Brendan and Chase Estabrook, guilty of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence but was hung on the two charges of deliberate homicide.
The jury vote was split, ten for guilty and two not guilty on both counts. The Estabrook brothers were gunned down near 6th and Ash in Three Forks in January of 2022.
Lawyers for Norman claimed the shooting was in self-defense.
MTN News spoke with the Estabrook brothers' mother, Kim Finn. She says the family is disappointed in the outcome, but they respect the jury.
Finn added the family believes the state did a great job, and thanks them. She says they’re looking forward to going to trial again to get justice for her sons, Brendan and Chase.
Prosecutors now can now either dismiss the homicide charges or retry Norman.
Norman remains behind bars at the Gallatin County Detention Center.
