Testimony began Monday in Cottonwood County in the trial of a San Diego, California man facing charges after an incident on New Year’s Eve at the Phat Pheasant Pub in Windom.
No Name Given Happy, age 26, is charged with six felony counts stemming from the incident at the Phat Pheasant Pub, including second-degree murder with intent (not premeditated), second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and three counts of felony threats of violence.
The incident resulted in the death of 30-year-old Benjamin Matter of Windom. Two other individuals were treated for stab wounds.
Jury selection began Thursday and wrapped up around noon Friday, with a panel of 12 jurors and two alternates selected. The makeup of the panel was seven women and seven men.
Prosecution witnesses on the first day of the trial included:
- Officer Austin Lasky of the Windom Police Department, who was the first law enforcement officer on the scene. His testimony included body-worn camera footage from when he responded to the scene, as well as after he obtained a search warrant for Happy’s semi truck, which was parked in the Running’s parking lot.
- Cara Zamzow, the fiancee of Ben Matter. She stated she was outside the bar when Happy returned with a knife.
- Vanessa Perez, a forensic scientist from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Her testimony included numerous photos taken at the scene, as well as a description of how blood evidence was collected.
- Phat Pheasant employee Cassidy Haberman, who testified overhearing Happy make threatening comments, then later saw a scuffle before seeing Matter bleeding and injured.
- Phat Pheasant employee Monica Strand testified she had been the one to cut Happy off from ordering alcohol. She later saw him upset no one wanted to play pool for money and eventually asked him to leave after hearing he had made threatening comments. She later saw a scuffle after Happy returned to the bar and saw Matter after he had been stabbed.
- Bobby Buss testified he saw Matter calm Happy down near the pool table. He was among the bar patrons who escorted Happy from the bar. He was still outside when Happy returned and attempted to push the door to the bar closed when Happy brandished a knife. Buss testified that a person walking Happy to his semi stated he had given Happy “a couple of love taps.”
- Susan Buss testified she thought the people playing pool had been mostly good-natured, but later in the evening saw a fight break out and Matter injured. She first attempted to render aid, then went outside by Zamzow while law enforcement and EMTs performed CPR.
Testimony from prosecution witnesses was to continue Tuesday.
