Michigan man to appeal 20-year sentence in crew camp killing

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - A Michigan man convicted of fatally stabbing his friend in a North Dakota oil patch crew camp is appealing his murder conviction.

Thirty-three-year-old Ryan Anderson is appealing his conviction in the death of 32-year-old Christopher King. Both men came from Iron River, Michigan.

A jury in August found Anderson guilty of killing King in March 2013. Anderson was sentenced this month to 20 years in prison.

The Williston Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1yNuw2p ) that Anderson has maintained his innocence, saying he stabbed King to death in self-defense. Authorities say the attack was part of an alcohol-fueled dispute at a crew camp between Ray and Tioga, northeast of Williston.

Anderson's trial was moved to Grand Forks after his attorney successfully argued he couldn't get a fair trial in Williams County.

___

Information from: Williston Herald, http://www.willistonherald.com