A 17-year-old suspected of fatally stabbing his friend’s father on Sunday was charged as an adult today by Adams County District Attorney Don Quick.
Andrew Michael Galek was charged with one count of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Hans Joachim Botho Winter, 63.
The charge alleges that at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Galek fled Winter’s home in the 3600 block of West 94th Avenue in Westminster with a knife. When police arrived at the home, they found Winter with stab wounds to the abdomen.
Krista Flannigan, spokesperson for the Adams County district attorney’s office, said Galek was arrested about 15 minutes later four blocks west of the Winter residence hiding under a pickup truck.
During a brief hearing today in Adams County District Court, longtime defense lawyer Craig Truman appeared on behalf of Galek.
Truman objected to the district attorney charging Galek as an adult. Galek was advised of his rights and the consequences of the charges, the right to remain silent and his right to an attorney.
The murder count says that Galek unlawfully, feloniously and “after deliberation” intended to, and did, cause the death of Winter.
According to the police report, Winter’s wife called police and told them that a longtime friend of her son, who was spending the night, was drunk and had gone into the backyard with a small paring knife.
She said the teen was suicidal and upset with his parents and had stabbed her husband.
Police found Winter on the bed, pale but still breathing. Next to Winter was a 5-inch-long knife with a black handle.
Flannigan said that the decision to charge Galek as an adult was done “after a thorough review of the case” with Westminster police.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Galek on Aug. 1.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
