Greeley – The trial of a woman accused of killing the wife of her lover – a Greeley police officer – is likely to take place in Larimer County and away from the publicity the case has drawn.
Weld County District Judge Roger Klein said Thursday that he soon will rule on trying first- degree-murder suspect Shawna Nelson in the adjacent county.
Klein also will rule on whether to allow testimony concerning affairs Nelson allegedly had with local law enforcement officers and a tendency to wish violence on the women she considered romantic rivals.
Nelson is accused of shooting Heather Garraus, the wife of former Greeley police officer Ignacio Garraus, on Jan. 23 in Greeley. Nelson and Ignacio Garraus had a boy as a result of their affair.
Nelson was married to former Weld County sheriff’s investigator Ken Nelson, who faces a charge of tampering with evidence. Police say he tried to take possession of the murder weapon in the case.
The trial is set for late November.
Prosecutor Cliff Riedel asked Klein on Thursday to include testimony from witnesses who said Shawna Nelson threatened to violently deal with the women of her lovers.
In one instance, Nelson said she would hide in some bushes before leaping out and shooting the wife of a deputy sheriff with whom she was having an affair, Riedel said.
In another instance, Nelson said she would kill the dogs of a Weld County prosecutor who was dating her husband.
Nelson, Riedel said, showed a pattern of calculation that was put into motion before Heather Garraus’ death.
“It shows what would happen if you got between her and her man,” Riedel said.
But defense lawyers argued her alleged threats did not relate to the current case.
“All of this had nothing to do with Heather Garraus,” said lawyer Kevin Strobel.
Both prosecutors and Nelson’s defense lawyers agree the case should be tried outside of Weld County for a variety of reasons, including the possibility that the media coverage of the case had tainted the jury pool.
Klein also said jurors probably will be acquainted with many members of the local law enforcement community involved in the case.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
