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FARGO — The murder trial of a Fargo person accused of producing his girlfriend’s demise by pushing her down a flight of stairs was the scene of an intensive exchange Thursday early morning, March 31, in between the lawyer for Cody Plumlee and a shut buddy of Kirsten Knaus, the woman Plumlee is accused of killing.
On Wednesday afternoon, Lisa Weaver testified in Cass County District Courtroom that Plumlee shoved Knaus down a flight of stairs at a north Fargo home on Dec. 7, 2020.
At the time, Weaver was living in the basement of the residence, which was owned by her moms and dads, and Knaus was in the procedure of location up an condominium on the primary floor.
Weaver stated Knaus and Plumlee argued that working day about a automobile and a cellphone. She mentioned Plumlee arrived and went from the household numerous times that day.
When Plumlee returned for the final time in the night hrs of that working day, Weaver reported, he kicked in a locked doorway and scuffled with Knaus and herself. In the course of the altercation, Plumlee pushed Knaus down the basement techniques, she explained.
Weaver also mentioned that she witnessed Plumlee making use of methamphetamine on Dec. 6, 2020, the day ahead of the incident involving the stairway.
David Samson / The Discussion board
That testimony made worries among attorneys in the courtroom, which Choose Wade Webb dealt with exterior of the presence of the jury.
The challenge: Weaver’s testimony about Plumlee’s alleged drug use came as a surprise to both of those the defense and the prosecution.
With the jury not present, a law enforcement detective testified that Weaver experienced not shared that data during interviews, and prosecutors permit the choose know they were not conscious of the details Weaver had testified to.
When the demo resumed Thursday, defense lawyer Jeff Bredahl pressed Weaver on the problem, and Weaver reiterated that she had advised authorities about Plumlee’s alleged drug use.
She managed that situation even immediately after Bredahl and prosecutors educated her in the existence of the jury that the prosecution experienced not acquired that data.
David Samson / The Discussion board
Bredahl seized on the moment to frequently obstacle Weaver’s credibility, at 1 point asking her: “The jury is likely to have to determine no matter whether you might be telling the fact, correct?”
“Of training course,” claimed Weaver, who appeared unfazed by Bredahl’s questioning.
“I am not lying,” she reported through a single of numerous terse exchanges with Bredahl.
Below questioning by prosecutor Renata Olafson Selzer, Weaver claimed she felt she remembered what she experienced instructed authorities, but she stressed she was very apparent when it came to a number of details, these kinds of as no matter whether Plumlee experienced permission to enter the household — she asserted he did not — and how her pal was pushed down the methods.
Knaus was taken to the medical center adhering to the incident, and she died in the clinic weeks later on.
Plumlee was billed with murder, burglary, aggravated assault/domestic violence, reckless endangerment, wrong information and facts to law enforcement, theft and reckless driving.
He pleaded not responsible to the costs in February of 2021.
In his opening arguments on Wednesday
, Bredahl hinted that his shopper, who experienced injuries to his face throughout the incident at the north Fargo home, may just take the stand and assert he acted in self-defense.
Bredahl also questioned whether or not the prosecution could show the murder charge Plumlee faces, as it only applies if the state can show he prompted Knaus’ loss of life though committing or attempting to dedicate a burglary.
Weaver testified that Plumlee took her car keys from a shelf in a laundry place of the north Fargo household during a single of his visits to the dwelling on Dec. 7, 2020, and she claimed he drove absent with her motor vehicle soon after Knaus was pushed down the ways.
Bredahl’s questioning appeared to be an attempt to underscore the precise sequence of these activities and appeared to create that Plumlee took Weaver’s motor vehicle keys prior to the door staying kicked in and Knaus falling down the measures.
The demo, which will resume Friday, is anticipated to proceed into next 7 days.
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