Greeley – A woman who dated a University of Northern Colorado backup punter accused of trying to kill the starter testified Monday that she lied to police at his request.
At first, Angela Vogel told police that Mitch Cozad was with her at the time starter Rafael Mendoza was stabbed, but she said she quickly regretted that lie and 15 minutes later told investigators Cozad had left for part of the evening.
Cozad, of Wheatland, Wyo., is on trial on charges of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault in the Mendoza stabbing last Sept. 11. Police and prosecutors have alleged Cozad attacked Mendoza in a bid to get the starter’s job.
Vogel said Cozad led her to believe a player had been jumped by a group of people, and she didn’t learn Mendoza had been stabbed until police interviewed her the next day.
“I didn’t know what was going on,” she said. “I was lying to the cops.”
Mendoza was attacked outside his apartment complex in Evans, a small town adjacent to Greeley. He was left with a deep gash in his kicking leg but later returned to the team. He testified he could not see who attacked him.
The trial entered its second week Monday. Prosecutors said they plan to wrap up today, and the case is expected to go to the jury later in the week.
Prosecutors showed text messages they said Cozad sent Vogel on Sept. 12 and 13. They included: “We were not apart between 8 and 12”; “Please be strong for me did u say we got food?”; “U can stop all of this.”
Before adjourning for the day, the prosecution played a video of Cozad’s interview with Evans police Detective George Roose velt that took place in the early-morning hours of Sept. 12.
Roosevelt asked Cozad if he knew anybody who would do something like that to Mendoza.
“No, sir,” Cozad answered.
Roosevelt asked him, “Pretty odd, huh?” Cozad replied, “Yes, sir.”
