Man Who Killed Coworker With Meat Knife Gets Jail, Probation

HAMPSHIRE, IL — A Rockford man pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the Aug. 2, 2017, death of his coworker Ler Htoo, 26, on Thursday agreed to two years and six moths probation, along with 180 days in jail in the death of 22-year-old Ai Moo Say of Rockford. Say was killed when, according to prosecutors, Htoo accidentally threw a knife at him at the Hampshire meat plant where they worked.

Htoo will receive credit for the seven days he served in the Kane County jail following his arrest before bonding out. Judge John A. Barsanti accepted the plea.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Mark D. Stajdohar said that at about 2:20 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2017, Ler Htoo was working with a knife at a meat-cutting station in a business in the 200 block of Flannigan Road in Hampshire when "horseplay ensued." Prosectors said Moo Say threw meat that struck Htoo, and Htoo responded by flicking his knife at Moo Say. Officials said the knife slipped from his hand and struck the victim near the heart, killing him.

Man Killed Coworker With Thrown Meat Knife: Prosecutors

According to Illinois law, Htoo must serve the full sentence. He is free on $10,000 bond and will report to begin serving his sentence on May 13.