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(Neb.)-Hotz, Jury Members Wipe Away Tears During Murder Trial
By: Chad Franzen Posted at: 11/03/2009 05:16 PM
Former Chadron police Sgt. Sean Banzhaff was the first afternoon witness, Tuesday, in the murder trial of Joseph Hotz. Hutz is charged with killing his former roommate, 22-year-old- Kenneth Pfeiffer, in Chadron last December. Banzhaff was one of the arresting officers.
Banzhaff, who leads a ministry group on Tuesday nights at Chadron State College, said he recognized Hotz because Hotz had attended the group off-and-on between October and December.
Banzhaff said, because of their prior interaction, the two were on a first name basis with each other. He testified that when he and Sgt. Michael Loutzenhiser found Hotz he was covered in blood.
According to Banzhaff, they asked Hotz, "Where did the blood come from?"
He said Hotz told him, "From my roommate, and I believe an older gentleman."
The "older gentleman" is Rolland Sayer, who Hotz allegedly tried to rob at knifepoint shortly after stabbing Pfeiffer as many as 51 times.
Banzhaff said he then asked Hotz, "Joe, where's your roommate now?"
Hotz responded, according to Banzhaff, by saying, "My roommate is dead. I believe I killed him."
Prosecutors then played a tape from when Hotz was placed in the back of a police car. On the tape Hotz could be heard screaming for help from his parents and friends.
At one point, on the tape, he said, "Oh my God, it's all real now."
Other times, on the tape, he said: "I pray that Kenny's alright." and "What did I do? Oh my gosh!" and "I am so confused right now, I need some help!"
He also could often be heard praying for mercy and guidance. He said he is a sinner, and that Christ saved him. He thanked God for all he had done for him.
While the tape played, Hotz often looked down, or placed his face in his hands, wiped away tears, or placed his head in his arms on the table in front of him.
Also, while the tape played, some jury members were seen wiping away tears.
Chadron police Lt. Rick Hickstein also testified regarding the circumstances in the house where Pfeiffer was found dead. Among photos shown during his testimony were one of Pfeiffer lying on the floor in an area saturated with blood, one of a bloody black cell phone, one of mushroom spore syringes inside the refrigerator, and one of marijuana related items in the living room.
The trial continues at 9 am on Wednesday.
(Questions, comments? E-mail [email protected])
By: Chad Franzen Posted at: 11/03/2009 05:16 PM
Former Chadron police Sgt. Sean Banzhaff was the first afternoon witness, Tuesday, in the murder trial of Joseph Hotz. Hutz is charged with killing his former roommate, 22-year-old- Kenneth Pfeiffer, in Chadron last December. Banzhaff was one of the arresting officers.
Banzhaff, who leads a ministry group on Tuesday nights at Chadron State College, said he recognized Hotz because Hotz had attended the group off-and-on between October and December.
Banzhaff said, because of their prior interaction, the two were on a first name basis with each other. He testified that when he and Sgt. Michael Loutzenhiser found Hotz he was covered in blood.
According to Banzhaff, they asked Hotz, "Where did the blood come from?"
He said Hotz told him, "From my roommate, and I believe an older gentleman."
The "older gentleman" is Rolland Sayer, who Hotz allegedly tried to rob at knifepoint shortly after stabbing Pfeiffer as many as 51 times.
Banzhaff said he then asked Hotz, "Joe, where's your roommate now?"
Hotz responded, according to Banzhaff, by saying, "My roommate is dead. I believe I killed him."
Prosecutors then played a tape from when Hotz was placed in the back of a police car. On the tape Hotz could be heard screaming for help from his parents and friends.
At one point, on the tape, he said, "Oh my God, it's all real now."
Other times, on the tape, he said: "I pray that Kenny's alright." and "What did I do? Oh my gosh!" and "I am so confused right now, I need some help!"
He also could often be heard praying for mercy and guidance. He said he is a sinner, and that Christ saved him. He thanked God for all he had done for him.
While the tape played, Hotz often looked down, or placed his face in his hands, wiped away tears, or placed his head in his arms on the table in front of him.
Also, while the tape played, some jury members were seen wiping away tears.
Chadron police Lt. Rick Hickstein also testified regarding the circumstances in the house where Pfeiffer was found dead. Among photos shown during his testimony were one of Pfeiffer lying on the floor in an area saturated with blood, one of a bloody black cell phone, one of mushroom spore syringes inside the refrigerator, and one of marijuana related items in the living room.
The trial continues at 9 am on Wednesday.
(Questions, comments? E-mail [email protected])