Nicole Mitchell's trial opens with dramatic opening statement

Nicole Mitchell's trial got started with a dramatic opening statement from Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald. In his opening statement, McDonald instructed the jury to remember the words "I know I did something bad." According to McDonald, that's what Sen. Mitchell said. Further, the arresting officer said that Sen. Mitchell was dressed all in black, that she'd taken off her shoes to help her be stealthy and that her flashlight was covered by a sock.

According to Becker County Attorney McDonald's opening statement, this case won't require jurors to read between the lines. McDonald told the jury that Sen. Mitchell broke into her mother-in-law's home by prying open an egress window with a crowbar. According to an Alpha News tweet, McDonald said she "was caught red-handed a short time later." This is reported in Alpha News's report on the trial.

According to McDonald's opening statement, "This case won't be about speculation. It won't be about reading between any lines. This case will be about what the defendant did, what she admitted to and what you will see and hear with your own eyes and ears. The evidence will show that this was not the defendant's home, the defendants was not invited to the residence that morning, that ahe entered through an egress window by prying it open with a crowbar at 4:45 in the morning. The evidence will show that the defendant was dressed in all black, including wearing a black stocking cap." Thisis that Alpha News tweet:

Introducing Office Joe Sternhagen

This might be the most damning evidence of the case:
During the morning’s events, Mitchell made statements that included "I have never done anything like this," "There were just a couple things of my dad’s I wanted to come get," "obviously not good at this," "I know I did something bad," and "I just wanted to get a couple of my dad’s mementos."
McDonald is right. Based on this information, Sen. Mitchell's statements inform the jury of Sen. Mitchell's intent that night. The jury won't be required to follow any clever plot twists or figure out Sen. Mitchell's intent. This is pretty straightforward, in fact.

Introducing Bruce Ringstrom Jr., defense attorney

This case is only a couple days old and I already feel bad for the guy. Check out Ringstrom's opening statement:

told jurors that Mitchell was not there to take any items, but was instead in the home to check on her 75-year-old stepmother who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

In his opening statement, Ringstrom told Mitchell’s life story and talked about the senator’s parents separating when she was young, her work as a meteorologist, her military career, and her relationships with family.

Then there's this: Ringstrom knows that this is a difficult case for him. He's trying to portray his client as caring daughter checking up on her stepmother. I don't doubt that Carol has Alzheimers. It's even believable that Sen. Mitchell wanted some of her dad's posessions back. The thing that'll trip her up, if she's found guilty, is that Sen. Mitchell entered Carol Mitchell's home at 4:45 am while dressed in black from head-to-toe.

Sen. Mitchell told police that she'd "never done anything like this" and that "There were just a couple things of my dad’s I wanted to come get."

This is why defense attorneys tell their clients to not talk to the police. In this instance, Sen. Mitchell's statements might be all that's needed to convict her. Further, it'll be difficult to portraying Sen. Mitchell as a loving stepdaughter after she's told officers that she wanted to retrieve some of her dad's things (at 5:00 am). Good luck selling that tale of woe.

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