FORT COLLINS, Colo.—A woman charged with killing a romantic rival testified Thursday that she had encouraged her lover to save his marriage.
Shawna Nelson, 36, of Greeley is charged with first-degree murder in the January 2007 execution-style killing of Heather Garraus in Greeley.
Prosecutors have accused Nelson of killing Garraus so she could be with Garraus’ husband, former Greeley police officer Ignacio Garraus. Nelson and Ignacio Garraus had a three-year affair that produced a child, whom Nelson’s estranged husband agreed to raise as his own.
Prosecutors wrapped up their case Thursday with a forensic pathologist and a DNA expert.
Then Nelson took the stand in her own defense. She told jurors she and Ignacio Garraus had discussed divorcing their spouses, but they didn’t want to leave the lives they had.
Shawna also said text messages she sent to Ignacio and Heather Garraus were misinterpreted. When she wrote “be prepared” or that the couple “would pay,” she was referring to child support for the son she had with Ignacio Garraus, Nelson testified.
