Sidney S. Andersen acted out of "revenge and anger," not self-defense, when he allegedly shot and killed his daughter's ex-boyfriend last year, a Douglas County prosecutor said Wednesday.
During his opening statement in Andersen's first-degree murder trial, prosecutor Rob MacTaggart said Randall J. Grimm, 25, was shot twice in the head and once in the chest outside the Hy-Vee Supermarket near 78th and Cass Streets.
MacTaggart said Andersen claimed Grimm pulled a gun on him. However, "there was a gun laying next to Mr. Grimm's body, and it belonged to the defendant."
Andersen's attorney, public defender Tom Riley, said Andersen sought the help of authorities after Grimm threatened his family -- but they didn't arrest Grimm.
"(Grimm) basically threatened to kill the defendant, his daughter, his three children, his mother, his daughter's friend and her child," Riley said. "He felt what he did was protect his family. This guy had terrorized them for the last three days."
Andersen, 41, of 17629 Josephine St. in Sarpy County, is charged with first-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony in the Feb. 28, 2011, slaying.
Grimm wanted to meet Andersen at the Hy-Vee, where Andersen's daughter worked, to settle a dispute over money. Grimm claimed she owed him money that the two had in a joint back account. Riley said Grimm told Andersen to meet him at the store -- or else.
Andersen's daughter and Grimm had broken up a few days earlier, and there had been a history of domestic violence and abuse between the two.
MacTaggart said Andersen should have done what he apparently set out to do -- let police handle the situation. Earlier that day, he had called Sarpy County sheriff's deputies, who contacted Omaha police and asked them to wait for Grimm in Omaha at the Hy-Vee.
But Riley said the store's surveillance tapes showed a squad car circle the parking lot and leave. The officer didn't go inside, where Andersen was waiting, Riley said.
Omaha police detective Dave Schneider testified that Grimm asked Andersen, "You got my money?'' and then left the store to call police.
Schneider said Andersen replied, "The cops are on the way. It's over."
Andersen then shot Grimm, Schneider said.
Riley called Grimm a "manipulative abuser" who made Andersen feel like a "sitting duck."
But MacTaggart reminded the jury that Grimm, despite the bad things said about him, wasn't on trial.
He said police told Andersen not to meet Grimm at Hy -Vee. Instead, he said, Andersen took two pistols and a pair of rubber gloves and took matters into his own hands.
"This," the prosecutor said, "is not a case of self-defense."
World-Herald staff writer Roseann Moring contributed to this report.
2 comments:
I'm glad Sidney Andersen is an idiot or else he may have got off easy. The guy forgot to throw away the ammo at his house for the gun that he planted on my brothers body. I hope he rots in prison and gets made somebody's bitch. I already know he will burn in hell but that just doesn't seem like enough punishment for me.
I'm sorry for your loss. Sid Andersen is a very abusive man. He was abusive to his children, and both of his ex wives. He terrorized them and then makes claims that he is a victim. Sid never has been nor will be a victim. He has always wanted to know what it is like to kill someone. He had a fascination with it. I know his ex wife and how terrified she and the kids were of him. Neighbors feared him and he threatened people with guns before. I am so sorry for your loss.
Post a Comment