LAKEPORT — The defense rested its case Tuesday following the continued testimony of defendant Shannon Lee Edmonds, 35, who stands accused of the Sept. 2009 killing of Montana man Shelby Ryan Uehling, 25. Defense Attorney Public Defender Doug Rhoades directed Edmonds testimony toward clarification of statements made in his testimony on Thursday.
Edmonds, along with co-defendant Melvin Dale Norton, 38, are standing trial on 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. The men have pleaded not guilty by means of self-defense.
After receiving evasive and inconsistent answers on Thursday, District Attorney Art Grothe asked Edmonds point blank if he thought Uehling was dead. Edmonds replied, “That”s what they”re telling me. I guess so.”
The first question Rhoades asked Edmonds on Tuesday was why he answered that question as he did. Edmonds said he did so because it”s very hard for him to accept something he did may have caused Uehling to die.
Previously the jury heard the testimony of Dr. Thomas H. Gill, who is the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Uehling”s body. Dr. Gill”s said he concluded that Uehling”s death was caused by “multiple sharp force injuries.” He said the most significant injury was a laceration to the neck that penetrated the carotid artery. Dr. Gill said another laceration wound on the victim”s lower back that penetrated through the ninth and 10th ribs puncturing the lung was quite extensive as well. Dr. Gill had spent most of the court day on the stand testifying to the multiple injuries suffered by Uehling.
Rhoades also asked Edmonds whether or not he had seen Norton inflict any injuries onto Uehling. Edmonds said that he did not.
Grothe brought back into question Edmonds” statements to the police following the incident, at which time he said, “When I ran up 53 (Norton and Uehling) were basically going at it.” The interviewer then asked if he meant actually physically fighting and Edmonds replied yes. “When I made contact they were out of the car. They were boxing,” he continued in the statement.
Grothe asked Edmonds if his definition of boxing was use of closed fists and he said “ya, I guess so.” Rhoades asked Edmonds if he ever saw fists up face-to-face, squared off. Edmonds said no that he had only seen some type of physical confrontation. Rhoades then asked how long Edmonds had been without sleep prior to the interview, which was about 25 hours.
Norton”s Public Defender Stephen Carter asked Edmonds if he had done his best to answer the detective honestly. Edmonds said he did. Grothe then went through a list of about 15 items in which Edmonds knowingly lied about his contact and involvement with the victim. Edmonds said that in the beginning of his statement he had lied but at one point decided to tell the truth. When police asked him why he lied he said he didn”t want to go to prison over some (explicit) scumbag stalking his old lady.
Throughout their testimonies, Edmonds and Norton replied repeatedly to being terrified in relation to why they lied, why they didn”t call the cops and their general feeling with regard to the confrontation with Uehling. Grothe asked if his feeling of terror was caused by the thought of going to prison. After telling Grothe that he wasn”t sure what he was asking, Edmonds said yes. Grothe asked if he was still afraid of going to prison and Edmonds said of course.
Edmonds was also questioned about sounds made by the victim, which defense counsel described as guttural screaming. “Have you heard other people make those screaming sounds,” Rhoades asked. Edmonds said yes. “Are they the sounds people associated with meth make?” Rhoades asked. Edmonds said yes.
“Have you ever heard someone scream when they”ve had those horns in the thyroid broken?” Grothe then asked. Edmonds said that he had heard people scream after they”ve been punched in the throat but that he couldn”t say what a hemorrhaging thyroid sounds like.
After the jury was directed into the jury room, counselors stepped into judge”s chambers for an undisclosed statement on camera. After returning, the defense rested its case.
Grothe took up his rebuttal recalling Clearlake Police Officer Michael Carpenter to the stand. Carpenter testified, to the best of his knowledge and experience, the typical actions of a person on methamphetamine. The recording of Norton describing the sounds made by the victim was played and was asked if the noises were consistent with those made by a meth user. “It does not sound consistent with meth use,” Carpenter said. “Those types of noises sounded like someone screaming in pain.”
Rhoades asked if knowledge that Uehling had used meth hours prior to the incident would change his answer. Carpenter said no.
Alisha Scottsberry, RN, medical director at the facility in which Edmonds has resided since approximately Sept. 22, 2009; also testified on Tuesday. After the judge directed her to answer questions pertaining to Edmonds” medical history, she said that Edmonds had disclosed a history of “seizures,” without quantification, when admitted to the facility. Edmonds previously testified to a loss of memory due to five grand mal seizures suffered since the incident. Scottsberry said that there was a single incident documented, described only as a “seizure.” She said the incident was witnessed by staff and was described as being not significant. She said on Dec. 31 Edmonds claimed to have another episode; however, it was not witnessed. She said he is currently on medication for the condition.
In concluding the day”s business, Carter presented an oral motion to continue the trial due to new information learned earlier Tuesday morning. The information alleges that Uehling”s wounds may have come from an altercation other than that involving the defendants. Carter asked for 24 hours to investigate the information. Honorable Judge Arthur Mann gave him until 9 a.m. today, at which time the trial is expected to reconvene with closing arguments.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
