SCOTTSVILLE — An Allen County man accused of manslaughter in the shooting death of his brother-in-law might argue self-defense at trial, according to his attorney. 

An Allen County grand jury indicted 25-year-old Kalob Carter, of Adolphus, on June 22. Carter faces a charge of first-degree manslaughter in the Feb. 23 shooting death of Ernest Matthew Davis, 30, at Davis’ Scottsville residence. If convicted, the charge carries a punishment of 10 to 20 years in prison. 

Carter is currently free on a $50,000 surety bond. He was formally arraigned during a hearing Tuesday at the Allen County Judicial Center in Scottsville. 

“The event that happened that night of course is a family tragedy,” said Carter’s lawyer, Bowling Green-based attorney Alan Simpson. 

Kentucky State Police investigated a confrontation between Carter and Davis, which resulted in Davis’ death. KSP Detective Jason Lanham previously testified at a preliminary hearing that Carter claimed he shot Davis in self-defense while intervening in an argument between Davis and his wife Angie, who is Carter’s sister. 

Carter brought a pack of cigarettes to Angie and Matt Davis’ house on the day of the shooting and was there when a verbal argument broke out between the couple. Carter told police he went into the bathroom to intervene. That was when Davis confronted Carter and asked him to leave, Lanham testified at the March hearing. 

“(Carter) said his sister hollered his name for him to come help her,” Lanham testified. “He described Mr. Davis hitting (Carter’s) sister, throwing punches, choking her – during the interview I believe he even acts it out.” 

Lanham also said Angie Davis told police there was a “heated discussion” with her husband, but that it didn’t get physical. 

The confrontation between the two men moved near the front door of the house. At that point, it’s believed Carter shot once, striking Davis in the face. Simpson has said Carter sustained injuries as well, including a broken jaw after Davis punched him in the face. 

“Mr. Carter was defending his sister,” Simpson said after the hearing. “(Matt Davis) had become very verbally loud and then had knocked a dust pan out of his sister’s hand and was starting to get really aggressive with her.

“She yelled for help and he went to her aid. Unfortunately, Mr. Davis attacked Mr. Carter and it ended up with Mr. Carter defending himself and his sister.”

Simpson said he is still going through the process of discovery with prosecutors.

“Once I have an opportunity to look at that, the next step would then be for us to decide whether or not we file a stand your ground motion,” Simpson said. “There are statements that I’ve not been privy to. I’ve heard summaries of them at the preliminary hearing but at this point I don’t know exactly what the witnesses said.” 

An argument for self-defense would rely on the state law allowing a person to protect himself if he believes it’s necessary to defend himself or a third person. 

Circuit Judge Janet Crocker set the date for discovery as Oct. 11. 

— Follow reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @aaron_muddbgdn or visit bgdailynews.com.