Musician Convicted in Pennsylvania Party Hostess Slaying

YORK, Pa.-- A central Pennsylvania musician faces life in prison after being convicted of murdering the hostess who hired his band to play a party last year.

The York County jury took about 2 1/2 hours to return a guilty verdict Wednesday in the trial of 30-year-old Paul Nelson Hansen. He faces a mandatory life sentence in August.

Authorities say Hansen killed 28-year-old Melissa Barnes in a muddy Newberry Township field in June 2010 after she confronted him about assaulting another guest at the party.

Hansen's attorney argued his client pulled the gun to scare Barnes and it went off accidentally. But witnesses testified Barnes drew the gun, aimed at Barnes' head and fired.

Barnes had hired Hansen's band, Disorderly Conduct, to play at the party.