The third day of a trial in Cottonwood County Court focused primarily on forensics Wednesday, in the trial of 26-year-old No Name Given Happy of San Diego, California.
Happy is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree assault and making terroristic threats, stemming from a stabbing incident on New Year’s Eve at the Phat Pheasant Pub in Windom. The stabbing resulted in the death of 30-year-old Benjamin Matter of Windom.
Wednesday’s prosecution witnesses included:
- Matt Booze, who was a patron at the Phat Pheasant on the night of the incident and played pool against Happy. He noted that Happy wanted to play for money and, at one point, dared Matter to knock him out, which Matter refused to do. After Happy was asked to leave, Booze said Happy challenged the men who escorted him out to fight. Booze told him to go back to his truck and sleep it off. Booze stated Happy came back into the bar and made two punching motions at Matter. Booze and Cody Jurgens then punched Happy to subdue him. Later in the evening, Booze put his hands in his jeans pockets and felt wetness. His hands were bloody when he pulled them out.
- Amy Houchins-Post, a loss prevention manager for Running’s, talked about the security cameras that showed the outside of the store. Brief video footage showing law enforcement arriving at the scene was shown.
- Senior Special Agent Derek Woodford from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension testified about being requested at the scene by Windom Police. He testified to interviews he conducted, as well as pictures of wounds to Cody Jurgens. He also stated he collected DNA samples from Happy, James Walker, Cody Jurgens, Matt Booze and Ben Matter. He stated Walker had touched the knife after it had been knocked away from Happy.
- BCA forensic scientists Clair Beyer, Stephanie Rink, Micaela Calabrese, Jordan Goelz and Kathryn Roche testified on testing of evidence they had done and procedures they followed to prevent cross-contamination.
- BCA forensic scientist Marissa Harrison testified she did comparisons of DNA tests on evidence to the samples taken from known subjects. None of the samples tested were definitive matches to Walker, Jurgens or Booze. Many of the blood stains in the vestibule and entryway to the bar matched the profile of Matter, while a couple of the blood stains on the bar floor definitively matched Happy. Additionally, a blood stain on the shaft of a pool cue matched the profile of Happy. Blood on the knife blade matched Matter, while blood on the butt, border and handle of the knife matched both Matter and Happy.
- Windom Police Investigator Donna Marcy testified about helping secure the scene and interviewing witnesses. She took photos of Matter at the hospital, then returned to the bar, where she took photos of Matt Booze’s wounds. She stated she also applied for search warrants for the Phat Pheasant and for DNA and clothing from Happy, while another person applied for a search warrant for the semi. She took photos of Happy’s wallet, camera case and camera. She added that phone records from Happy did not indicate that he had called 911 at any point during the evening of the incident.
The prosecution is expected to wrap up its case Thursday with testimony from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner. The defense may begin presenting its case as early as Thursday afternoon. Friday will be a day off for the trial. The defense anticipated calling at least one witness on Monday.
