A Wisconsin man was convicted of fatally beating a stranger while on a date with his wife because of his tattoos.
Kevin Sehmer, 65, was convicted on Thursday of felony murder — violence — in the June 17, 2023, attack outside Tabi’s Lake Country Wine Bar in Hartland, Wisconsin, that killed Joshua Davies, 39. Hartland is approximately 30 miles west of Milwaukee.
According to prosecutors, Sehmer was “looking for a fight” that night, telling Davis, “You’re a sinner” and “you’re going to hell,” Milwaukee Fox station WITI reported from the courtroom.
“Immediately upon seeing Joshua Davis, he took exception to his appearance,” Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper stated during her closing argument. She claimed Schumer told a detective, “He didn’t like him from the start.”
Jennifer Davies, Davies’ widow, spoke about what began as a wonderful date night that turned into the worst night of her life, all because of something incredibly absurd.
“I just remember immediately when the boys walked in him talking very loudly about their tattoos,” Davies testified, according to the station.
According to Law&Crime, Davies was attacked and banged his head on the sidewalk outside the bar, resulting in two skull fractures and brain hemorrhaging.
A group had flagged down an officer in the 100 block of East Capitol Drive at 11 p.m. that night, and the officer discovered Davies lying on the pavement, going in and out of consciousness. He was transported to a hospital and treated for critical injuries, according to officials.
Sehmer was arrested the next day and first charged with one felony count of aggravated violence, which was later enhanced after Davies’ death on July 12, 2023.
During the trial, defense counsel Scott Schiro attempted to explain that Sehmer was defending himself after a “grossly intoxicated” Davies lunged at him with a metal stool. A claim that contradicted what one witness, Jon LaPorte, attested to on that fatal night.
“You didn’t see Josh holding a stool in his hand?” asked defense attorney Scott Schiro.
“No,” Laporte replied.
“You didn’t see him holding it over his head?” Schiro asked.
“No,” said LaPorte.
Sehmer risks thirty years in prison. He is due to be sentenced on September 6, according to the online court docket.
Law and crime reporter Bret Lemoine described how the victim’s family reacted to the outcome. “I got this tattoo, and I put his armbands on,” said his father, Edward Davies. “We’re very happy with the way it turned out.”