By C1 Staff
GERING, Neb. — The trial against Dylan Cardeilhac in the death of Corrections Officer Amanda Baker started Monday, and the defense claims they won’t dispute the facts.
KOTA TV reports that attorneys for Cardeilhac won’t dispute that their client was involved in the fatal attack on Baker, but they plan to argue that his intent was only to escape.
“This was an unintentional killing committed during an unlawful attempt to escape,” said attorney Todd Lancaster during opening statements.
Cardeilhac is charged with first degree murder.
Deputy Attorney General Doug Warner told the jury that in two hours’ worth of video that they would be shown, they would see Cardeilhac jump on top of and strangle CO Baker.
The video doesn’t include audio, but Warner said “you can’t hear a word, but you can see his actions.”
Testimony from various inmates will show an intent to escape, not kill, according to Lancaster.
The trial is expected to wrap by the end of the week, and if convicted, Cardeilhac could be sentenced to life in prison.