The prosecution rested its case in the Brian Cooper murder trial in Door County Circuit Court Wednesday. District Attorney Ray Pelrine used parts of three days to lay out the reasons why the 37-year old Plainfield Illinois man should be convicted on two counts of first degree intentional homicide in the strangling death of 19-year old Alisha Bromfield, also of Plainfield, & the death of her unborn daughter at a southern Door County resort in August of 2012. The first trial in Door County court ended in a hung jury last June. As he laid out his case, Pelrine brought back witnesses who testified about the death scene, the circumstances leading to Cooper’s arrest & the reaction of her family. Taped police interrogations of Cooper were also played for the jury brought to Sturgeon Bay from Dodge County so it could hear from the defendant close to the time of the murders. Defense Attorney John Birdsall then called Cooper to testify in his own defense Wednesday. Cooper recounted the interaction he had with an abusive step-father & his off-&-on relationship with Bromfield. The prosecution has indicated that her rejection of his attempts at a relationship triggered the rage that led to her death. The defense has inferred that alcohol played a key role in the incident. Some observers believe that at the current pace, the jury could begin deliberations as early as Friday, depending on the number of witnesses called by Defense Attorney Birdsall. Judge D. Todd Ehlers is presiding.
