Man Sentenced To Life After Mayonnaise Fight Ends In Killing

A man in the US has been sentenced to life in prison after a fight over mayonnaise escalated to murder.

Kristofer Erlbacher was eating and drinking in a bar in Iowa on 17 December 2020 when Caleb Solberg spread the mayo over his food.

A bar fight ensued and 29-year-old Erlbacher made threats to 30-year-old Solberg and his half-brother Craig Pryor.

Later that night, Erlbacher rammed Pryor's vehicle with his pickup truck and ran over Solberg after he spotted him outside a café.

He then doubled back and ran over Solberg two more times before ringing Pryor to tell him he had killed his brother.

Harrison County Sheriff's Office

According to the Des Moines Register, Pryor said during Erlbacher's trial that 'it was just another bar fight in Harrison County,' which District Court Judge Greg Steensland referenced in his findings, writing: "It was just another bar fight in Harrison County, until it wasn't any longer."

Erlbacher was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced on Monday (31 January) to life in prison.

Erlbacher had tried to reduce the charge to second-degree murder - which carries a 50-year sentence - arguing that he was intoxicated and justified in using deadly force to defend himself.

Judge Steensland dismissed this argument, stating: "Even if Erlbacher is under the influence of alcohol, he is responsible for his acts if he had sufficient mental capacity to form the specific intent necessary.

"Intoxication is a defence, only when it causes a mental disability which makes a person incapable of forming specific intent."

He continued: "The evidence in this case shows that Erlbacher was in no imminent danger that necessitated the use of deadly force against Solberg.

"The evidence shows beyond a reasonable doubt that Erlbacher acted without justification."

Judge Steensland added that it was clear Erlbacher intended to kill Solberg.

According to The Independent, he said: "Erlbacher's first blow to Solberg did not kill him. He can be heard screaming for his brother, Craig Pryor.

"Rather than just leave, Erlbacher went down the street, turned around, and came back to strike Solberg a second time.

"To be sure he had completed the job, Erlbacher drove his truck up and over Solberg one last time."

Topics: US News, Crime

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey