Left inset: Kevin Sehmer. Right inset: Joshua Davies. Background: Tabi’s Lake Country Wine Bar in Wisconsin, where Davies suffered fatal injuries (WITI/YouTube).
A Wisconsin man was found guilty of fatally punching a stranger out on a date with his wife because of his tattoos.
Kevin Sehmer, 65, was found guilty on Thursday of felony murder — battery — in the June 17, 2023, attack outside Tabi’s Lake Country Wine Bar in Hartland, Wisconsin, that killed Joshua Davies, 39. Hartland is nearly 30 miles west of Milwaukee.
Prosecutors said Sehmer was “looking for a fight” that night, telling Davis, “You’re a sinner” and “you’re going to hell,” Milwaukee Fox affiliate WITI reported from the courtroom.
“Immediately upon seeing Joshua Davis, he took exception to his appearance,” Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said in her closing argument. She said Sehmer told a detective “he didn’t like him from the start.”
Davies’ widow, Jennifer Davies, testified about what started as a great date night out that turned into the worst night of her life and started over something ridiculously senseless.
“I just remember immediately when the boys walked in him talking very loudly about their tattoos,” Davies testified, the station reported.
As Law&Crime reported, Davies suffered two skull fractures and bleeding on his brain after being punched and hitting his head on the sidewalk outside the bar.
An officer who had been flagged down about 11 that night by a group in the 100 block of East Capitol Drive found Davies lying on the sidewalk, going in and out of consciousness. He was taken to a hospital and admitted with critical injuries, officials said.
Sehmer was arrested the following day and initially charged with one felony count of aggravated battery, which was later upgraded after Davies died on July 12, 2023.
During the trial, defense attorney Scott Schiro tried to argue Sehmer was trying to protect himself as a “grossly intoxicated” Davies lunged at Sehmer with a metal stool. A claim that conflicted with what one witness, Jon LaPorte, testified to observing that fateful night.
“You didn’t see Josh holding a stool in his hand?” asked defense attorney Scott Schiro.
“No,” LaPorte answered.
“You didn’t see him holding it over his head?” Schiro asked.
“No,” replied LaPorte.
Sehmer faces 30 years in prison. He’s set to be sentenced on Sept. 6, the online court docket said.
The victim’s family reacted to the outcome, as reported by WITI reporter Bret Lemoine.
“I got this tattoo, and I got his arm bands on,” said his father, Edward Davies. “We’re very happy with the way it turned out.”
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