Alfred Saario, right, confers with defense attorney Henry McRoberts before jury selection Monday for his murder trial in Iron County Trial Court. (Nikki Younk/Daily News photo)

By Iron Mountain Daily News Staff

CRYSTAL FALLS — Alfred Saario said in court Thursday he did not plan to kill his stepdaughter in June 2016 but got a gun because he feared for his safety when confronting her over a cellphone she’d taken from his room.

Saario, 66, took the stand in his own defense on charges of first-degree pre-meditated murder or second-degree murder, as well as discharge a firearm in or at a building causing death. All are life felonies.

He is accused of fatally shooting 29-year-old Jamie Lee James in his Alpha home on June 22, 2016, before turning the gun on himself in a failed suicide attempt that left him with serious facial injuries.

Throughout this week’s trial in Iron County, Saario and his attorney, Henry McRoberts, have maintained the shooting was in self-defense.

Saario said he was in his upstairs bedroom that evening when James barged in and snatched up his cellphone, taking it downstairs. He grabbed a gun before following because he felt threatened by James, who had what his wife earlier had described as a “bitter” and “strained” relationship with her stepfather that had included striking each other in the past.

When he reached the first floor, James was behind him and made a threatening statement, Saario said. He reacted by turning and shooting her, he said.

He then shot himself, Saario explained, because he didn’t know how he’d explain the shooting to his wife, James’ mother.

Prosecution was expected to cross-examine Saario Thursday afternoon.