Yukon man found guilty of attempted murder

A Yukon Supreme Court jury found Chris Cornell guilty of attempted murder Thursday night after just over five hours of deliberation.

Cornell was charged with robbing a Haines Junction, Yukon, grocery store two years ago, then trying to kill police who pursued him.

After receiving instructions from Judge Leigh Gower Thursday morning, two of 14 jurors were dismissed. The jury reached its verdict around 7:30 p.m. after deliberating the afternoon.

Cornell claimed he was innocent and police arrested the wrong man

While no witnesses were able to positively identify him at the scene of the crime two years ago, jurors concluded it was Cornell who tried to rob the Haines Junction grocery.

He was found guilty of assaulting the store janitor and peppering him with bear spray and guilty of trying to murder a police officer and passenger by shooting at the cruiser that pursued him up the Alaska Highway.

Jurors were not told that Cornell's partner and accomplice that night, Jessica Johnson has already pleaded guilty to her role in the robbery and shooting. 

Johnson's plea bargain was protected by court ordered ban on publication until the Cornell trial concluded.

Sentencing dates have not been set for either case.