Bernina
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I just want to say that SZ's public defender is a dingleberry!
:floorlaugh:
He was really pushing the sensibilities of the Judge!
I just want to say that SZ's public defender is a dingleberry!
A former West Allis police officer charged in connection with the discovery of two women's bodies inside suitcases along a road in the Town of Geneva was bound over for trial Thursday in Walworth County Circuit Court on two charges of hiding a corpse.
Circuit Judge David Reddy made the order after a preliminary hearing in the case.
Walworth County sheriff's Detective Jeffrey Recknagel testified Zelich told him he "spent days" with victim Jenny Gamez in Kenosha before killing her.
The detective testified Zelich said he dumped the bodies because the car trunk odor "was so strong he decided he had to do something."
But West Allis Chief Charles Padgett told WISN 12 News that officials in charge at the time said the woman didn't want to pursue charges.
"The female in this situation wasn't interested in attending a Police and Fire Commission hearing that would have to occur if it was a termination or a district attorney review which would have to occur for charges," Padgett said.
Zelich ultimately resigned from the department.
The woman denied she refused to cooperate with the West Allis investigation.
The above from article: http://m.wisn.com/news/woman-says-she-escaped-from-steven-zelich-in-2001/26770854
I need more information and proof from both sides to decide who to believe.
Walworth County authorities have said the women were killed elsewhere and they expect homicide charges to be filed in those other counties.
Before Circuit Judge David Reddy bound Zelich over for trial on charges of hiding a corpse, attorney Travis Schwantes argued that probable cause for a trial did not exist because in leaving the bodies along the road in the Town of Geneva, Zelich was likely hoping they would be discovered.
Schwantes was responding to District Attorney Daniel Necci, who said Zelich was likely trying to conceal a crime.
"There is nothing in the law that says they have to be hidden well," Necci said.
I suppose he could have been holding onto them in the hopes of the bodies deteroriating to the point where his DNA/evidence was no longer present. It sounds like the deaths were a result of strangulation/asphyxiation. A skeleton wold make it difficult to identify this as the cause of death. (Therefore difficult to identify a suspect and convict him without "reasonable doubt.") There would be no DNA left in the pubic area, skin under the fingernails, etc.
Zelich's public defender Travis Schwantes said Thursday in court that the deaths were accidents that may not merit additional charges.
Judge Phillip Koss disagreed, saying the fact that Zelich hid the bodies, first in his home and car and then in tall grass along the road, indicated Zelich knew a crime had occurred.
"If there's purely no crime, I'm not sure why one doesn't call 911 immediately, but beyond that, if there's no crime, it's not clear why these need to be hid at all," Koss said as he ordered Zelich held for trial on the charges of hiding a corpse.
Judge Koss also questioned claims by Zelichs attorney that the two women died accidentally, saying that its not likely to be accidental when this happens two times.
That "live stream" was pretty interesting, the trial, if SZ doesn't plead out should be something else! Seriously, his defense attorney said there was no intent to "hide" the suitcases?!?!?! WTH. He was hiding the bodies for months.
Liked the comment the Judge stated about (paraphrase) one accidental death.....ok, two accidental deaths, we have a problem. And not calling 911? Good call, Judge!
Schwantes said after the hearing that Zelichs defense would be that the deaths were accidental. He asked Recknagel in court whether Zelich told him the sex was consensual.
They agreed to meet together and, unfortunately, I have not been able to ask anyone other than Mr. Zelich if it was consensual, the detective said.