NEW BRIGHTON — A New Brighton man heads to court for a trial in a long-running dispute that ended with the fatal shooting of his neighbor.

A defense attorney says the victim, Todd Stevens, created a “hillbilly hell” in their neighborhood by leaving beer cans strewn about, fighting with his father and threatening the defendant, Neal Zumberge, and his family.

The 58-year-old Zumberge plans to claim self-defense during his trial which begins Monday in Ramsey County District Court. Neighbors tell the Star Tribune both men provoked each other for years and weren’t very tolerant of other people.