Christopher Strawn has been taking an active role during his trial for the shotgun murder of Brandon Cook.
One juror was dismissed and another’s presence on the jury questioned, less than half a day after the trial got underway in Juneau Superior Court.
Before testimony started Thursday, one of the jurors was dismissed because he realized that he had taken custody of Strawn’s dog after the defendant’s arrest. A second defendant who realized he had attended a Thanksgiving dinner with Assistant District Attorney Amy Paige was retained, over Strawn’s objections.
“These people are human, they communicate,” Strawn told Judge Philip Pallenberg.
“I respect your point of view,” Pallenberg said, adding the dinner was for a few hours, 14 months ago.
Strawn, who has been dressed in a suit jacket for the trial, also has been accompanying his defense attorney, Eve Soutiere, to all bench conferences.
At one point Thursday, Paige complained that Strawn, as co-counsel, was commenting to the judge about a perceived inequity in a loud enough voice that the jury could hear.
Pallenberg cautioned Strawn he should express his concerns to his attorney and not try to have a conversation with the judge.
Strawn, 33, is facing charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct for allegedly shooting Cook in the back of the head on Oct. 20, 2015.
Thursday morning’s testimony centered around the first law enforcement officers to respond to the scene of the shooting in Kodzoff Acres Mobile Home Park on Mendenhall Loop Road.
Juneau Police Sgt. Jeremy Weske testified he was the sergeant on duty that night and responded to the call-out at about 10:30 p.m. He described how officers approached the trailer on foot, clearing the area and then securing the trailer.
Weske discussed some of the crime scene photos that were taken, including several of Cook’s body that caused several of the victim’s family members to break down in tears and leave the courtroom.
Weske said an EMT confirmed Cook was dead, but no one entered the the kitchen to preserve the evidence.
On cross-examination, Weske said a decision was made to curtail radio traffic because it was being posted on Facebook, adding that did not change officers’ approach to the case.
“We did the same things, we just didn’t talk about it on the radio,” he said.
Detective Benjamin Beck also testified regarding his response both to the initial crime scene and to Strawn’s residence to assist with his arrest.
Beck testified officers had some difficulty making sure the trailer was safe and in getting Tiffany Albertson, the owner of the trailer and the woman who called 911, to exit the residence.
“She was distraught,” Beck said, characterizing her behavior as panicked and frantic. Beck said Albertson pleaded to be taken out of the area, saying, “He could be anywhere.”
Albertson was patted down for weapons and escorted to an ambulance, Beck said.
On cross-examination, Beck testified a man in the area with a truck was verified by another officer to be a member of a citizens patrol.
Beck said he was called to Strawn’s residence as part of the SWAT team and saw him taken into custody.
The trial will resume at 8:30 a.m. today.
• Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or at lix.kellar@juneauempire.com.
