Trial Begins in Fatal Neighbor Feud

NEW BRIGHTON (AP) - A New Brighton man heads to court for a trial in a long-running dispute that ended with the fatal shooting of his neighbor.

A defense attorney says the victim, Todd Stevens, created a "hillbilly hell" in their neighborhood by leaving beer cans strewn about, fighting with his father and threatening the defendant, Neal Zumberge, and his family.

The 58-year-old Zumberge plans to claim self-defense during his trial which begins Monday in Ramsey County District Court. Neighbors say both men provoked each other for years and weren't very tolerant of other people.