White River Junction — A 68-year-old East Bethel man could face up to 15 years in prison after a jury convicted him last week of unlawfully shooting a friend during an April 2015 argument over drinks at his Route 14 home.

Windsor Superior Court Judge Theresa DiMauro ordered Dennis Dundas held without bail pending his sentencing hearing, which hasn’t been scheduled.

The jury returned its verdict on a single count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in just over an hour.

Dundas had claimed that he shot Donald Giovanella in self-defense after Giovanella threatened to leave with a bottle of brandy, started “acting crazy” and attacked him, but Windsor County Deputy State’s Attorney Heidi Remick said Dundas’ version of events didn’t line up with the physical evidence members of the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team found at his home shortly after the altercation.

The bottle of brandy was found “neatly shelved,” there was no sign of a struggle and bullets or bullet casings were found near the doorway, not near the bar area where the two men had been drinking, said Remick, who prosecuted the case.

Because of Giovanella’s serious injuries, police weren’t immediately able to interview him about what happened. When they did, Remick said, Giovanella’s version of what happened more closely lined up with the physical evidence.

Giovanella, who testified during Dundas’ three-day trial, contended it was something he said about war that set Dundas, a Vietnam veteran, off.

Dundas then grabbed his gun, told Giovanella to leave and shot Giovanella while he was on his way out the door, Remick said.

“I expect that this gives Mr. Giovanella some comfort,” Remick said of the outcome of the trial. “The initial press was all based on the defendant’s story — that Giovanella got violent. … The evidence didn’t really bear that out. I hope the verdict helps to set that right.”

Dundas, who testified to his innocence, had argued that he shot Giovanella three times out of self-defense, according to a Vermont State Police affidavit filed in his case.

According to that affidavit, after Giovanella threatened to leave with Dundas’ bottle of brandy, Dundas told police, Giovanella went “off the deep end” and started “pounding him,” so Dundas grabbed his gun. Dundas claimed Giovanella wrestled him for the weapon, leading him to shoot.

Vermont State Police Sgt. Todd Baxter, who wrote the affidavit, stated he confronted Dundas during their interview about his ever-evolving recollection of events, such as where Giovanella’s hands allegedly were on Dundas’ body during the altercation.

Several messages left for Dundas’ attorney, Daniel Maguire, weren’t returned.

The defense has 10 business days to file any post trial motions, according to court documents.

A presentence investigation report will then be conducted, Remick said, noting the state at this time doesn’t have a sentencing recommendation.

Dundas is being held at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, Vt.

Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.