LAKEPORT — The testimony of three witnesses was heard 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.
Both men face charges of murder, assault with a knife, assault with a club and assault likely to cause great bodily injury. Norton faces an additional charge of accessory after the fact while charges against Edmonds are accompanied by special allegations because great bodily injury was allegedly inflicted.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years to life without the possibility of parole.
Following opening statements, the prosecution called its first three witnesses to the stand. Clearlake Police Officer Michael Carpenter was the first called by Deputy District Attorney Art Grothe. Officer Carpenter”s testimony was accompanied by a series of graphic photos of the crime scene and the victim”s body as well as Edmond”s person taken a few hours after the incident with Uehling.
Officer Carpenter, who was the first emergency responder on scene, testified to conducting an officer initiated detail on Uehling”s vehicle about two hours prior to the assault. He said the red Honda was parked unoccupied in the Mendo Mill parking lot. It was still warm, unlocked and cluttered with personal belongings he said. That detail was cleared without incident. He said two hours later he responded back to the area of Clement Drive and Lotowana Road following a report of battery.
Describing the murder scene at his arrival, Officer Carpenter said, “I observed a tremendous amount of blood. On the west side of the road I saw a body lying face down on the ground next to a tree,” he said. Officer Carpenter additionally testified to seeing a “slice” on the victim”s neck as well as items in various locations of the scene including a mini-mag flashlight that he said was about six-inches long with a diameter about the size of a nickel and a portion of a golf club, which he said was later ran over by an ambulance.
The jury later saw a number of photographs supporting Officer Carpenter”s statements. Jurors also saw graphic pictures of the victim”s body, each for which the witness identified numerous points of impact and trauma. Along with the neck wound that severed the victim”s carotid artery, he identified stab wounds to the back and the buttocks and discoloration to multiple areas of the body. The defense objected in the officer”s reference to bruising arguing his expertise to make such a judgment and the term discoloration was used instead. Officer Carpenter also identified discoloration, dried vegetation and dirt in the area of victim”s knees and inner and outer legs.
Officer Carpenter provided testimony related to pictures taken of Edmonds about four to five hours after the assault. Edmond”s body was free of discoloration and there was no apparent swelling in his hands. There were two marks on Edmond”s body including a small red dot under his chin and a “Y” shaped laceration on his upper left arm.
While Edmond”s Public Defender Doug Rhoades said in his opening statement that his client received the injury during the altercation with Uehling, Officer Carpenter testified to the contrary. “(Edmonds) said he received that injury while crossing a fence,” the officer said.
Officer Carpenter”s testimony was broken into two segments due to scheduling conflicts. He is expected to retake the stand when the trial resumes at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Lake County Superior Court Department 3 in Lakeport.
Also testifying on Thursday were two men who live near the scene of the assault. Michael McKean said he was awoken the night of the incident by the voices of more than one male subject. “They were hollering and beating up some guy,” McKean said. “When I heard ?I cut his throat” that”s when I called 9-1-1.”
Phillip Adams also testified to hearing what sounded to him like a fight between several subjects. He said although he did not intend to intervene, he had walked toward the area of the commotion. He said shortly after hearing the commotion stop he turned around and began to return to his home. As he peered between two houses, he said he saw two figures on the “high road” walking toward Lotowana Resort. He said the subjects appeared to be average-height males, one slightly taller than the other..
The defense”s cross examination involved questions calling for clarification of the witnesses” statements to police officers following the incident. They both maintained their testimony to what they said was to the best of their recollection.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
