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Shawna Nelson Trial Blog Day 1: 911 Tapes Played

Thursday, Feb. 21

POSTED: 8:46 am MST February 21, 2008

Posted 8:28 p.m.

The fourth and final witness of the day was a man who was in a nearby bar when the shooting took place. He told the court that he ran outside in back and saw someone in a dark colored pickup peel out. He said he saw the wheels spinning.

During opening statements, Prosecutor Gregory Lammons told jurors they would hear from an expert who measured the tire tracks left at the scene with those of the pickup Heather was driving. He said it was a perfect match. Lammons also said that witness would testify that a piece of gravel lodged in one of the tires matched the scene.

Posted 8:24 p.m.

Third witness on the stand is Melinda Maeder a co-worker and friend of Heather Garraus. Maeder said she was 4 feet away from the victim when she was shot.

When the prosecutor asked if she saw the shooting, Maeder answered, "Yes."

When asked where Heather was, Maeder teared up and said, "She was on her knees looking up at me."

Posted 8:18 p.m.

Second witness is Nicole Cordova, another one time co-worker of Heather's.

Nicole said that as she, Heather and several employees left the credit union on the night of Jan. 23, 2007 she heard another individual tell Heather, "You ruined my life."

Cordova said two gunshots were fired, and that she ran behind Brad Mitchell's car, and told him to call 911.

After the gunman left, Cordova said she walked back around the car and saw Heather Garraus on the ground. That's when she called 911.

Cordova broke down on the stand when she heard a recording of her own frantic 911 call.

Posted at 2:35 p.m.

First witness called to the stand is Brad Mitchell, an employee of the credit union where the victim worked.

He related how he, Heather Garraus and several other employees were leaving work the night of Jan. 23, 2007 when they saw someone wearing black approach. He said the individual said, "You've ruined my life, get on the ground." He said ... "That's when I heard two shots go off."

Prosecutors then played a tape of the 911 call. It was a frantic plea for help.

Posted at 2:01 p.m.

Prosecutor Gregory Lammons told jurors that witnesses at the credit union where the shooting took place saw a figure dressed in black from head to toe.

He said after the shooting, police found a black mask under the seat of the suspect's pickup, and that the mask had Shawna Nelson's DNA on it.

Lammons said a witness who was a good friend of Nelson's will tell them that the suspect confided in her that she wanted (Garraus) dead, and that she would shoot Garraus and try to leave false clues.

Public Defender Annette Kundelius told jurors that Shawna Nelson did not kill Heather Garraus. She said, "We don't know who did, but it couldn't have been Shawna."

Kundelius said someone called the credit union and complained about their loan being denied. She said officers never asked for a list of people who had been denied a loan. They never followed up that angle of the investigation, and focused only on Nelson.

Posted at 12:51 p.m.

Spoke with two people who were not selected for jury duty.

When asked what it was like sitting through three days of jury selection, Virginia Crawford said, "Well, I feel it's a real responsibility as a citizen to be available for jury duty. It would have been an honor to have been selected."

Richard Price told me, "I would have (served) but I really didn't want to. I would have just because I would want somebody to do it for me if I was charged with a crime."

Posted on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 11:57 a.m.

Jury is seated and sworn in. Judge instructs them to not discuss the case with anyone. Also to not read or view stories about this case.

Remaining potential jurors are dismissed. They break for lunch.

Opening statements scheduled after instructions at 1:15.


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