Denise Rockenstein — Staff reporter
LAKEPORT — The testimony of defendant Shannon Lee Edmonds, 35, of Clearlake was heard all day Thursday in the court of Judge Arthur Mann. Edmonds testimony will continue when the trial in which he is accused of murdering Shelby Ryan Uehling, 25, of Bozeman, MT. resumes on Tuesday.
Throughout his day-long testimony, Edmonds rarely gave an answer consistent with one given previously in his testimony or in his statements taken by police following the Sept. 22, 2009 incident in which Uehling was killed. At one point Public Defender Stephen Carter, who represents co-defendant Melvin Dale Norton, 38, of Clearlake, objected to a repeated question by the prosecution on grounds of “asked and answered.” Judge Mann overruled the objection citing the defendant had answered the question differently on more than one occasion.
Edmonds said that his memory has degenerated since providing statements to the police due to five grand mal seizures that he claims have occurred. When Lake County District Attorney Art Grothe asked if there was medical documentation to substantiate his claims, Edmonds said there was not, implying that his needs were ignored while incarcerated.
Edmonds testified to not being aware of the relationship Uehling was involved in with Edmonds on-again, off-again girlfriend Patricia Campbell, until after Campbell broke it off with Uehling and returned to him. Campbell previously testified to returning to Edmonds a couple of days before the Sept. 22 incident. She said she spent the six or seven days prior to that with Uehling.
Grothe questioned Edmonds about text messages he sent to Uehling on Sept. 14 in which he told Uehling that Campbell would never be his and that Uehling better hide from him. Edmonds said that he didn”t intend to imply that he would never let Campbell go and that he meant Uehling should hide because he intended to take a picture of Uehling”s car and turn him into the police department for being a drug user. After Edmonds received no response when he asked Uehling if he had sex with Campbell, he sent a message that read similar to: “Chicken (explicit) can”t tell me. What comes around goes around. I know a lot of bad (people) in this town.”
When Grothe asked Edmonds to explain the last text, he said he wasn”t threatening Uehling and that he just knew that there are a lot of bad people in Clearlake.
Edmonds was asked several times about the physical altercation between him and Uehling. At times he said that he couldn”t remember giving Uehling any injuries except for punches in the face. At other times Edmonds said that he didn”t land many blows, but he got a few blows in to Uehling”s face and multiple body shots.
Edmonds also provided contradicting statements related to the location in which he and Uehling allegedly fell to the ground and how many times they may have done so. In statements to the police Edmonds said at one point Uehling began to run away. In his testimony he said he meant to say backed away. In his police interview Edmonds said that he ran up to Uehling as he was nearing Old Highway 53 and went to sock him. In his testimony he said he didn”t really mean running and that is was more like a few steps.
Grothe displayed pictures of Uehling”s battered body pointing out countless injuries while asking Edmonds where they came from. Edmonds repeatedly replied “I don”t know.” Grothe asked if there was anyone else in the area during the incident that might have caused the wounds, like Norton or anyone else. Edmonds said “doubtful” in regard to Norton and “I don”t know” to anyone else.
Edmonds answered with “I don”t know” quite often. At one point, Grothe drove his hands into the bench before him and asked “Do you really think Shelby Uehling is dead?” Edmonds said “That”s what they”re telling me. I guess so.”
Groth also asked point-blank if Edmonds killed Uehling. “Apparently,” Edmonds said, raising his eyebrow as he tilted his head. “Apparently I ended it very badly and apparently he died.”
Edmonds and Norton are charged with several crimes including 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. The men have pleaded not guilty by means of self-defense.
Grothe also brought out pictures of Edmonds” person taken after the incident. The only visible injury suffered by Edmonds was a small laceration on his forearm, which he said he received when Uehling pulled something from his waistband while Edmonds was in motion to punch him. After landing that punch, Edmonds said the two of them fell to the ground. Edmonds said that was when he pulled his knife from his pocket. After that, he said the incident is “fuzzy.”
Edmonds said that a bruise surfaced on his face and on his knee a couple of days after the incident; however, no photographic documentation was made.
Edmonds will retake the stand when the trial resumes at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Lake County Superior Court Department 3 in Lakeport.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
