Murder alibi of the week: "She shot herself"

[jmowreader]

https://cdapress.com/news/2021/apr/17/accused-killer-makes-first-court-appearance/

On April 13, Victor Claus of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and his girlfriend Melissa Schloe were driving in Idaho when they got in a big argument. Schloe was shot in the head from a distance of at least 18 inches, crossed the center line, sideswiped a motorcycle then hit another car hard enough to flip it twice. Mr. Claus was booked on first-degree murder charges and, because he was very drunk at the time, is facing the death penalty.

His alibi: “She grabbed the gun off my dashboard, where I always keep it, and shot herself.’

The sheriff immediately affixed a laser sight to a similar gun and attempted to set up the same shot. After hours of trying they attest there’s no way she could have shot herself.

But that’s his story and he’s sticking with it.

[Volaris]

1. How very russian of her...

[dsc]

2. The whole story is odd

but one line really strikes me. "Mr. Claus was booked on first-degree murder charges and, because he was very drunk at the time, is facing the death penalty." That seems an odd aggravating factor. While I am against the death penalty in all cases, this seems to be a particularly odd specific reason to give the death penalty when one wouldn't have otherwise.

[jmowreader]

3. Okay, it wasn't quite that but close

Section 19-2515 covers the Idaho death penalty, and lists the aggravating circumstances. The one they’re using is 9c, “knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons.”

[marble falls]

4. "But your honor, I was a witness. I was there and I saw everything - it's seared clearly ...

... into my brain. Go ahead, ask me anything!"