MADISON – A North Carolina man was convicted by a Boone County jury last week of voluntary manslaughter relating to the Feb. 22, 2012, stabbing death of a Boone County man. Brian Lee King, 39, of Asheboro, North Carolina, was originally indicted by a Boone County grand jury on one count of second-degree murder. The jury deliberated about three hours before reaching its verdict, according to Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Keith Randolph. The trial came after King got into a fight with Roy “Cheesy” Gilliam, 23, on the roadway in the Jeffrey-Spencer area of Boone County in the early morning hours of Feb. 22, 2012, and allegedly stabbing him to death. King tried to claim self-defense saying the fight was “over a woman” and that Gillam attacked him. According to a criminal complaint, King had been in the car with Gillam’s girlfriend, Lori Stevenson, and Gillam found them. A fight broke out, and he was stabbed once in the chest. Police testified that King admitted to the altercation with Gillam. He also later admitted to having a knife and striking Gillam once in the chest with it. King, however, told police he was “in fear for his life.” Stevenson has said that she was just giving King a ride to get a cell phone. King remains in jail and will be sentenced at a hearing that has yet to be set. He faces 3 to 15 years in prison.