LAKEPORT — Opening statements began the morning Thursday in the murder trial of Shannon Lee Edmonds, 35 and co-defendant Melvin Dale Norton, 38. The Clearlake men have pleaded not guilty by means of self-defense to murder charges related to the Sept. 22, 2009 death of Shelby Ryan Uehling, 25, of Bozeman, MT.
Deputy District Attorney Art Grothe led with remarks leading to evidence to be presented throughout the course of the trial. He highlighted multiple injuries sustained by the victim and identified evidentiary items allegedly used in the assault including a police baton commonly referred to as an asp, a curved double-bladed knife and a golf club.
“Testimony will show that the double-bladed knife and asp were the property of Shannon Edmonds,” Grothe said. “The golf club that Mr. Norton grabbed as he walked out that door is the same embedded in the dash (of the victim”s vehicle).”
Grothe described the crime scene for the jury as well as articles allegedly recovered from the defendants” respective homes including blood-stained clothing, boots, the knife and the asp. He also indicated that several text messages, allegedly from Edmonds, recovered from the victim”s phone will be included in the testimony ahead. The messages Grothe spoke of related to relationship squabbles between Patricia Campbell and both Edmonds and Uehling.
“There was a brief period where Ms. Campbell left the exclusive company of Shannon Edmonds and began a relationship with Shelby Uehling,” Grothe said adding that the latter relationship involved sex and methamphetamine. “Mr. Edmonds found out about a week prior to Shelby Uehling”s death. Mr. Edmonds made it clear that he didn”t want Mr. Uehling to associate with Ms. Campbell.”
Public Defender Doug Rhoades, who represents Edmonds, contended in his opening statement that Edmonds” actions were taken in effort to protect both Norton and Campbell. Rhoades said that the incident actually began several weeks prior to Uehling”s death. He said Edmonds disapproved of Uehling”s drug use and his efforts to get Campbell to use.
Rhoades said at one point Campbell broke off the relationship with Uehling, which he said Uehling had trouble in accepting. “Something happened where Mr. Uehling didn”t like to be told no,” he said.
Rhoades said that as Norton walked home from a barbecue at Edmonds” home, he spotted Uehling”s vehicle on Old Highway 53 in the area of Clement Drive and Lotowana Road, which is where the crime took place. He contended that the vehicle had no legitimate reason for being there and had been seen in the same area two hours earlier by Clearlake Police. He said that Norton then called Edmonds and informed him of Uehling”s presence because the pair feared Uehling was “stalking” Campbell.
Rhoades said that Norton arrived to confront Uehling first. He said when Edmonds arrived Norton and Uehling were engaged in some sort of confrontation though he did not clarify whether it was verbal or physical at that point.
“Our contention is that Mr. Edmonds was defending two people,” Rhoades said. “One that was there and one who was not.”
Public Defender Stephen Carter, who represents Norton, followed with his opening remarks, which were similar to those of Rhoades. He said that Norton is a longtime family friend of Campbell and had felt protective of her.
“This dispute rose out of, not so much a need for confrontation, but a need for protection of Ms. Campbell,” Carter said.
Carter said that Norton suspected Uehling was obsessed with Campbell. Norton had indeed grabbed the golf club from his porch when he went to confront Uehling, he said because Norton was concerned with how Uehling would act.
Following opening statements, the jury heard the testimony of three of the prosecution”s witnesses including the officer who responded to the scene first and two men who live in the area and had allegedly heard the altercation between the men.
The trial is scheduled to continue at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Lake County Superior Court Department 3 in Lakeport. Clearlake Police Officer Michael Carpenter is expected to retake the stand and continue his testimony.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
