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'He was protecting his kid': Fiancée defends father accused of beating man to death

She says her teenage daughter is filled with regret as her father faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly killing the man who tried to get into the teen's bathroom stall at a Phoenix gas station.

PHOENIX — As a father faces second-degree murder charges after he allegedly beat the man who tried to get into his daughter’s bathroom stall to death, his family is coming to his defense.

Diana Jackson, Melvin Harris III’s fiancée, said her teenage daughter is filled with guilt after the incident.

“She keeps saying, ‘I wish I never asked him to take me to the store,’” Jackson said.

Court documents revealed that Harris was at the QuikTrip at 19th and Dunlap avenues to pick up his daughter and her friends Aug. 2.

A man asked Harris for money and then went into the QT after Harris gave him change, according to the documents.

Harris’s daughter told her dad the man, Leon Armstrong, tried to get into her bathroom stall.

Police documents say Harris went inside the store and "told a security guard he needed to take care of the situation, or (Harris) would do it himself."

Witnesses told police Harris punched the man in the face.

Jackson said Harris didn’t do anything wrong.

“He was protecting his kid,” she said. “I’m not mad at him at all. He sent me a post card like ‘I’m sorry.’ I’m like, I’m not mad at him.”

Documents say Armstrong was on the ground when Harris, “struck the victim in the face several more times and also kicked and stomped on him.”

Armstrong later died from his injuries. Officers arrested Harris the following afternoon.

Harris told police Armstrong swung first and only admitted to punching Armstrong in the face before he fell to the ground.

Meanwhile, a teen filled with regret and her mother wait to see how this all plays out in court.

Harris is scheduled to appear in court Friday, where he is expected to enter a plea.

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