File Photo: Marcus Kaarma, right, is followed into Missoula District Court by his girlfriend Janelle with their child in Missoula, Montana. (Associated Press photo)
Missoula:
A neighbor and former law enforcement officer who discussed gun laws with the girlfriend of the Montana man who fatally shot a German exchange student is set to resume testifying at the man's murder trial today.
Former Montana Highway Patrol officer John Michael Frellick has testified that Janelle Pflager asked him about Montana's gun laws days before her boyfriend, Markus Kaarma, shot and killed 17-year-old Diren Dede in the couple's garage. Witnesses have testified that Kaarma was on edge at the time after his garage had been burglarized.
Frellick says he told Pflager about an incident in Kalispell, Montana, in which a man shot an intruder who confronted him. But he said he told her that if the couple locked their doors, they wouldn't have any problems.
Prosecutors are trying to make the case that Kaarma left his garage door partially open to lure someone inside and was intent on harming any intruder before he shot Dede inside the garage on April 27.
Kaarma's attorneys say Montana's "stand your ground" law allowed him to use deadly force to defend his home.
Other neighbors testified this week that Pflager told them the couple planned to bait burglars into entering their garage so they could catch them. Pflager denied attempting to bait anyone, although she did leave a purse in the garage. The couple was alerted to an intruder that night by motion sensors.
Former exchange student Robby Pazmino, 19, of Quito, Ecuador, testified on Tuesday that he and Dede had engaged in "garage-hopping," or sneaking into people's garages, on as many as five other occasions. He said he didn't think it was right, but that many students at their high school were doing it.
Pazmino said he and Dede went for a walk late April 26 and that they noticed Kaarma's partially open garage door. Pazmino said he asked Dede if he was "going there." Dede didn't respond, Pazmino said. Pazmino said he walked down the street and waited, then ran away when he heard the first shot.
Former Montana Highway Patrol officer John Michael Frellick has testified that Janelle Pflager asked him about Montana's gun laws days before her boyfriend, Markus Kaarma, shot and killed 17-year-old Diren Dede in the couple's garage. Witnesses have testified that Kaarma was on edge at the time after his garage had been burglarized.
Frellick says he told Pflager about an incident in Kalispell, Montana, in which a man shot an intruder who confronted him. But he said he told her that if the couple locked their doors, they wouldn't have any problems.
Prosecutors are trying to make the case that Kaarma left his garage door partially open to lure someone inside and was intent on harming any intruder before he shot Dede inside the garage on April 27.
Kaarma's attorneys say Montana's "stand your ground" law allowed him to use deadly force to defend his home.
Other neighbors testified this week that Pflager told them the couple planned to bait burglars into entering their garage so they could catch them. Pflager denied attempting to bait anyone, although she did leave a purse in the garage. The couple was alerted to an intruder that night by motion sensors.
Former exchange student Robby Pazmino, 19, of Quito, Ecuador, testified on Tuesday that he and Dede had engaged in "garage-hopping," or sneaking into people's garages, on as many as five other occasions. He said he didn't think it was right, but that many students at their high school were doing it.
Pazmino said he and Dede went for a walk late April 26 and that they noticed Kaarma's partially open garage door. Pazmino said he asked Dede if he was "going there." Dede didn't respond, Pazmino said. Pazmino said he walked down the street and waited, then ran away when he heard the first shot.
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