Greeley — Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck presented the case against UNC backup punter to jurors himself today.
Buck detailed how Mitch Cozad allegedly plotted to kill starting punter Rafael Mendoza in his opening arguments in Cozad’s attempted first-degree murder trial. Cozad is accused of stabbing Mendoza in his kicking leg outside of his Evans apartment Sept. 11.
Cozad also faces a second-degree assault charge.
Cozad’s lawyer, Joseph “Andy” Gavaldon, told jurors another “football wannabe” tried to kill Mendoza. A freshman, Kevin Aussprung, failed to make the UNC soccer team but wanted to try to out for the football team as a kicker, Gavaldon said.
A seven-man, seven-woman panel – two are alternates – were seated mid-Tuesday afternoon after nearly two days of questioning.
The trial, estimated to last two weeks, started Monday morning in Weld County District Court.
Cozad claims he is innocent and charges police with bullying him during his interrogations.
