Former Weld County sheriff’s deputy Ken Nelson told jurors this morning that his wife, Shawna Nelson, could shoot as well as load and unload the type of handgun used to kill Heather Garraus.
Ken Nelson testified that he and his wife often went shooting together and that he bought her a handgun as a present. Nelson also said he noticed a tatoo on his wife’s ankle but had no idea it spelled out the first name of her lover, Greeley Police Officer Ignacio Garraus, the husband of the slain woman.
“She said it was something tribal,” Ken Nelson said. He added that he has begun divorce proceedings against his wife, who is on trial for first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Heather Garraus.
Ken Nelson told jurors he had previously agreed to end divorce proceedings against his wife when he learned she was carrying the child of Ignacio Garraus.
Nelson testified that he learned of the affair his wife and Garraus were having after reading her journal, which he found in the couple’s kitchen during Christmas 2004. The Nelsons — who have two children of their own — separated for about seven months but reconciled after Shawna got pregnant with Ignacio Garraus’ son.
“I agreed to raise him as my own,” Nelson said.
Ken Nelson testified this morning after Judge Roger Klein granted him immunity. Nelson is accused of evidence tampering for allegedly trying to get rid of the gun that authorities believe his wife used to shoot Heather Garraus.
Michelle Moore, who is accused of plotting with Shawna Nelson to kill Garraus, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors today. She will plead guilty to accessory to a crime, a Class 4 felony. In return, Moore also is supposed to testify against Nelson.
