As anticipated, the Brian Cooper murder trial is wrapping up in Door County Circuit Court Friday. The 37-year old Plainfield, Illinois man is charged with two counts of first degree intentional homicide in connection with the death of 19-year old Alisha Bromfield & her unborn daughter at a southern Door County resort in August of 2012. Cooper’s first trial ended in a hung jury last June. After Judge D. Todd Ehlers decided that the 12-person jury could consider a lesser charge of first degree reckless homicide earlier Friday, the prosecution & defense presented closing arguments & District Attorney Ray Pelrine provided a rebuttal argument. Cooper’s level of intoxication on the day Bromfield was killed has played a key role in the proceedings in terms of the issues of intent & awareness. Prior to beginning its deliberations, the 12-person jury will be chosen from the 14 people selected in Dodge County who have heard the case. A guilty verdict on the intentional homicide charge means life in prison. A similar verdict for the lesser charge of reckless homicide would bring up to 60 years of prison time.
