Apple River stabbing trial: Suspect's wife testifies
Summary
TLDRIn this transcript, Sandra, a witness, recounts an incident involving her husband Nikolai during a tubing trip. She describes the events leading up to when she noticed Nikolai in trouble in the water and how she responded by sending help. The conversation also delves into Nikolai's character, his health after a bypass surgery, and his activities on the day of the incident. Sandra provides details about the group dynamics, the use of a pocket knife, and the clothing worn by Nikolai, including his camouflage attire and lack of a hat while searching for a lost phone.
Takeaways
- 📍 The witness, Sandra, is being questioned about an incident involving Nikolai, who she knows well.
- 👥 Sandra and Nikolai were tubing with a group of people, including Ariel, Ernesto, and others.
- 🗓️ The incident occurred on July 30, 2022, during a tubing trip.
- 🔍 Sandra noticed Nikolai in trouble when he was on his hands and knees in the water and someone was hitting him.
- 🆘 Sandra sent Ariel and Ernesto to assist Nikolai after observing the situation.
- 🚨 There was a commotion and police arrived at the scene, where CPR was being administered to an individual.
- 💡 Nikolai had a surgery in 2020 and it affected his physical abilities, but he still remained active.
- 🍺 Alcohol was present during the tubing trip, but Sandra did not perceive Nikolai or anyone in their group as intoxicated.
- 🔪 Nikolai was seen with a pocket knife, which was used to cut strings on the tubes and was a common tool he carried.
- 🕶️ Nikolai was wearing sunglasses and a hat, and was seen without his shirt at one point during the day.
- 📸 Sandra was not aware of Nikolai using snorkel and goggles before the incident, and it was unusual for him to bring them.
Q & A
Where did Sandra and Nikolai meet?
-Sandra and Nikolai met at work.
What was the date of the tubing incident involving Sandra and Nikolai?
-The tubing incident occurred on July 30, 2022.
What city and state does Sandra live in?
-Sandra lives in Lakeville, Minnesota.
Who were the people Sandra was tubing with?
-Sandra was tubing with a group of people that included Ariel, Ernesto, Amy, and Rosie among others.
Why did Nikolai have a knife with him during tubing?
-Nikolai had a knife to cut the strings on the tubes.
What happened to Ariel's phone during the tubing?
-Ariel's phone got knocked into the water at some point during the tubing.
What did Sandra notice about Nikolai that made her concerned for his safety?
-Sandra noticed Nikolai on his hands and knees in the water and someone was hitting him, which raised her concern for his safety.
How did Sandra know Ernesto and Rosie?
-Sandra knew Ernesto and Rosie because they worked together, and Rosie had been to their house when they would visit Ernesto.
What was the atmosphere like in Sandra's group while tubing down the river?
-The atmosphere in Sandra's group was relaxed, with people listening to music and socializing until the phone got lost.
What was Nikolai's reaction to the incident according to Sandra?
-Nikolai expressed frustration with Sandra and her group for not coming in response to his yells for help. However, Sandra stated she couldn't hear any yells for help over the water.
What did Sandra and her group do after noticing the commotion and seeing Nikolai in a compromised position?
-Sandra asked two people from her group, Ariel and Ernesto, to go over to where Nikolai was to assist him.
Outlines
Witness Testimony Introduction 📝
The paragraph introduces the setting of a legal proceeding where a witness, Sandra, is being questioned. She confirms her identity and mentions her acquaintance with Nikolai Mew. The questioning revolves around their meeting, the location, and the events leading up to a specific date, July 30, 2022. Sandra also identifies people in a group and explains her relationships with them, providing context for the upcoming testimony.
Tubing Incident and Initial Actions 💦
This section details the events during a tubing trip where Sandra and Nikolai were present. It covers the initial moments of the incident, including Nikolai's actions, such as using a knife to cut strings and his interactions with a group of young men. Sandra describes the moments leading up to when items were lost in the water and the group's reactions, highlighting her lack of awareness about certain events due to her focus on relaxing during the trip.
Witness Account of the Confrontation 👀
Sandra provides a detailed account of observing a physical altercation involving Nikolai. She describes seeing him on his hands and knees in the water and being struck. She explains her actions and observations during the incident, including alerting others in her group and her inability to fully monitor Nikolai's movements. The paragraph also covers her interactions with law enforcement and her attempts to recall specific details of the event.
Clarifications and Group Dynamics 👥
In this section, Sandra clarifies her previous statements regarding the events of the day, particularly concerning Nikolai's return to the group and the actions taken by others in response to the incident. She discusses the group's dynamics, their proximity to the scene, and the decisions made during the unfolding situation. Sandra also addresses her own actions and reactions, emphasizing her concern for Nikolai's safety.
Relationship and Character Testimony 💞
Sandra talks about her relationship with Nikolai, their shared history, and his character traits. She provides insights into his profession, their shared experiences, and his personality. The focus here is on establishing Nikolai's character as peaceful and on detailing the couple's life together, including their work history and recreational activities.
Character and Behavior Analysis 🧐
The questioning shifts to examining Nikolai's character and behavior through Sandra's perspective. It covers his problem-solving skills, his use of tools, and his interactions with friends and family. Sandra also discusses Nikolai's health, including a significant surgery he underwent and its impact on his physical abilities and confidence.
Observations and Concerns on the Day of the Incident 🌞
Sandra recounts the specifics of the day leading up to the incident, including the attire worn by Nikolai, his actions, and the general atmosphere of the group. She addresses concerns about his alcohol consumption and his physical capabilities on that day, as well as any unusual behaviors she might have noticed.
Testimony on the Use of Pocket Knife and Outdoor Attire 🔪
This section focuses on Nikolai's use of a pocket knife and his choice of outdoor attire for the day of the incident. Sandra confirms that it was typical for Nikolai to carry a knife and wear camouflage clothing for outdoor activities. She also discusses his preparedness for the day's events and his interactions with the group.
Witness Account of the Incident and Subsequent Actions 🚨
Sandra provides a critical account of the moment she realized there was a serious issue during the incident. She describes her observations that led her to send help, her concern for Nikolai's safety, and her lack of awareness about the specifics of what was happening due to her distance from the scene and hearing limitations.
Concern for Safety and Decision-Making 🛑
In this part, Sandra explains her thought process and the reasons behind her decision to send help when she did. She emphasizes her desire to ensure Nikolai's safety and her concern that the situation might escalate beyond control. The summary also touches on her knowledge of Nikolai's past health issues and his recovery from surgery.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Witness
💡Tubing
💡Incident
💡Law Enforcement
💡Testimony
💡Character
💡Physical Evidence
💡Injury
💡Recollection
💡Conflict
💡Safety
Highlights
Witness Sandra Anderson begins her testimony.
Sandra confirms her relationship with Nikolai Mew and their mutual acquaintance, Richie.
Details of the tubing event on July 30, 2022, are discussed, including the group's activities and interactions.
Sandra's familiarity with the individuals in the group photo is established, including her knowledge of Ariel and Ernesto.
Sandra's recollection of the events leading up to the incident, including Nikolai's actions and the group dynamics, are explored.
The presence of a knife during the tubing event is mentioned, with Sandra clarifying its intended use and Nikolai's handling of it.
Sandra describes the moment she noticed something amiss, leading to her concern for Nikolai's safety.
The actions taken by Sandra and the group upon realizing Nikolai was in trouble are detailed.
Sandra's account of the aftermath, including the police arrival and the medical response, is provided.
The discussion shifts to Nikolai's character, with Sandra describing him as a peaceful individual.
Sandra talks about Nikolai's health, including his bypass surgery and its impact on his physical abilities.
Sandra addresses questions about Nikolai's alcohol consumption on the day of the incident.
The testimony concludes with Sandra's reflections on Nikolai's behavior and actions throughout the day of the tubing event.
Transcripts
nothing but the
TRU please have a seat in the witness
chair Mr
Anderson can you please State your first
and last name Sandra
mu and Sandra do you work no um where
what city and state do you live in I
live in Lakeville
Minnesota
and obviously you know Nikolai Mew
yes where did you guys where did you two
meet at work and is that Richie
engineering
yes were
you tubing with Nikolai on July 30 2022
yes were you with a group of people I'm
sorry what were you with a group of
people
yes commission to approach
yes I'm handing it's been marked as
exhibit 12 you can take
it are those the people you were tubing
with yes okay
um move to admit and publish any
objection to 12 no
objection and Sandra can you see that do
you go by Sandy or Sandra Sandy
okay far left person who's that it's
Ariel and how do you know
Ariel he's
nesto's nephew and anesto used to work
with us okay how many times were you and
Nick or just Nick close friends with
Ariel just met
him um we sort of were close friends
with them we'd go over to Amy and
nesto's house and he would be there okay
and how about the woman next Ariel I
don't know him know her very well that's
Ariel's girlfriend friend okay and
then
um guy third from right I don't know him
that was the first time he had been
there okay and then that's Nikolai next
to Fourth from right yes okay where are
you in this photo I'm in the inner tube
in the middle okay and
then where's Ernesto anesto is in
between Amy and Rosie okay maybe I'll go
back
everyone can see can you still see it
yeah show down okay and who is Rosie
Rosie is an nesto's
sister
and how do you know Ernesto and
Rosie I know anesto cuz we worked with
him Rosie's been over at his house when
we would go over there okay how long
have you known or
nesto
um I I don't even know 10 some years
probably maybe a little bit
more 10 to 15 yeah I'd go 10 to 15 okay
do you guys you and Nick would you
socialize with them a
lot yes we'd go to their house would
they come to your house yes okay so
decent close to close friends yes how
about Amanda or Amy that's in nesto's
wife okay you knew her pretty well too
yes and T did you know her I only knew
her a little bit I met her a couple of
times when we'd go over to Amy and
nesto's house okay and and same with
pachy I only met him when we go over
there and I only met him maybe three
times okay and you that's what you know
him as pachy mhm yes yes okay
sorry
when you were
tuing in the
beginning did Nikolai have a knife on
him I don't know if he did when we were
tubing in the beginning at the start
he only did to cut the strings on the
tubes he went back to the Jeep and I
thought he put it away
okay um and as you guys were
tubing so you didn't see him put it
there you just thought he put it in the
Jeep when he went back to the Jeep
yes and is that what he brought it for
to cut the string yes so you could tie
up at the beginning yes actually a nesto
called Nick and asked him to bring it
okay so we could he could cut the string
did you did your group stop on the way
did you stop anywhere on the way while
tubing why we were tubing no did you
stop before we got there yeah did you
stop somewhere to eat or hang out on a
beach or anything like that
no you remember telling law enforcement
you stopped and you're eating for like
30 minutes or so and using the bathroom
that was why we were
tubing what do you mean can you explain
that we were tubing down the river and
there was a spot that is covered where
they must have played a band or
something there once in a while it was
on the river while we were tubing we
stopped to eat gotcha you thought I was
asking about before tubing yes okay
sorry
and did
Nikolai have uh snorkel goggles with him
yes and was he
snorkeling by a group of young guys at
one
point I don't
know he just took the snorkle and went
out there did you see him by a group of
young guys at some point I did later
okay when the incident
started and was there actually a couple
times that Nicolai went over to that
group that I don't know for
sure did you tell law enforcement that
he went over there
twice I know he
I I think he went to that group he came
back and then I didn't know he went back
to that group until later I saw him over
there okay so he he had gone to the
group of the young guys came
back and then at some point he went back
there but you didn't see him go back
there again no I didn't keep track of
him okay
how how
long um was he back that you remember
before you noticed he was gone again I
know maybe 5 minutes I don't know for
sure do you remember saying maybe 10
minutes I I may
have and then when he went judge can we
approach
yes
e
e and at some point did Ariel's phone
get knocked in the
water I don't know how it went in the
water but
yes
and do you remember in relation to the
two times Nikolai went over to those the
group of young guys was it before the
first time after the first time do you
remember
was what before or after when the phone
got lost oh it was before
okay and was Nikolai looking for the
phone
yes what what were you guys doing the
rest of the group while Nikolai was
looking for the phone I don't know what
they were doing I was busy sitting in
the inner tube cuz I had a hard time
getting out of it and I was just looking
at the sky and the trees and just
relaxing and enjoying my day
you guys I mean your group was kind of
by a sandbar is that right mhm
okay and when Nikolai was back at the
group of young guys the second
time did something catch your
attention I happen to every once in a
while I'd sit up in my tube just to see
where Nick was at and the one time I did
that it looked like there was people
around him and all of a sudden I saw him
on his hands and knees in the water and
somebody was hitting him didn't you
originally say that the first thing you
noticed was all the young guys jumping
out of their
tubes I may have and it's that that
point that you alerted your group and
sent some people over there or asked
some people to go over there yeah I had
asked two of them who are those two
people Ariel and arnesto okay and again
Ariel in the group photos on the far
left yes he's with the red white and
blue and Ernesto is the guy the only one
without a shirt off in that photo yeah
he's on the other
side it's like second from where I'm at
on that side
okay
and so you
saw and just to clarify this is the
second time nikolai's at the group that
you see them jump
up yes
okay
and do arnesto after you see the boys
jump up and you alert the
group do Ernesto and Ariel start walking
over there
yes Ariel went first and then anesta
went and then I think you said the next
thing you remember was he or saw was he
was on his hands and knees in the water
and somebody hit him
yep and then did you see anything after
that I did
not and
and how at some point after what what do
you remember happening after
that they just brought him
back and and I saw the police come and
people were screaming
and um kid was by a tree I
guess and later because we stayed there
for about 20
minutes and I'm gonna get to that in a
second but I just want to back up a
little bit
so you said they brought him back
did Nikolai come back before or after or
with Ernesto and Ariel if you
remember with them I think did you
actually see Nikolai walking back from
the group or did you just was he just
there like next thing you noticed I saw
him
coming I didn't see him leave that group
I saw him no walking back and were you
watching him the whole time he was
walking
back not at the beginning when he left
the group I didn't see
that and did you watch
him
so I just want to make sure I'm
understanding
[Applause]
that the last sheet of paper yes um one
of the bails I think there's another
pack just outside the store leaning it
up against the
wall
let's take that one down we need to mark
it in any
event so if
this is the river
mhm let's say this is The Sandbar okay
you with me mhm okay were you you guys
are somewhere around here yeah right
next to it okay in the water or yes okay
like right here yep okay and
then
the do you remember where
the young boys were or young kids or
adults yeah they were on that
side the other side of the river yes
they weren't on the same side we were on
and they were they Downstream ways yes
okay so right I mean there's no scale so
yeah I'll just draw them generally here
so at some point Nikolai walked back mhm
and you said you didn't see him when he
left at first do you know like at if if
you know I don't want you to guess at
like if when he was halfway did you
start to watch him come back when he was
almost back to your
group
um probably a little less or a little
more than halfway okay so maybe like
around here no the other way lower oh
this down here probably saw him about in
there and did he walk straight back to
your group from there yes and you
watched him walk back yes okay do you
remember
you met
with essentially the people sitting at
this table prior to testifying is that
right
yes and do you remember saying in that
meeting that you weren't watching him
when he walked back the whole time yes
okay so you know which one it is yes I
probably didn't watch him the whole time
okay
and
after Nikolai was back by you your
group what did you see what did you
hear not not amongst your group but down
river um there was a lot of commotion
down there
um I saw um the police arrive I
saw someone I didn't really see the
person laying by the tree but I saw
somebody give him that person
CPR let me ask a question about that so
the person who is getting
CPR was that on the other side of the
river from you yes it was by where the
other people's troops were so
[Music]
somewhere down
here
yeah
and did you see that CPR going on you
said you're were there about 20 minutes
yeah I think it was about 20 minutes I
don't know for sure but it seemed like
20 minutes and was somebody getting CPR
on the shore that whole time um pretty
much
okay about 20
minutes did you
see and the commotion um can you
describe the
commotion um
people were more
frantic it
seemed um they were just going to people
that needed
help and what do you mean needed help do
you see people who are injured no just I
like I said I didn't see the one by the
tree either I'm just assuming but
no so what did
you what did you see to know they were
doing
CPR I saw some somebody pushing up and
down on the person's chest
okay did you see blood I did
not and so you said you saw a law
enforcement arrive mhm yes
and you remember seeing a couple
officers in the water
yes is that is that what you remember as
far as law enforcement that you saw
before you guys
left yes there may have been an
ambulance but I'm not
sure do you do you remember telling us
in the meeting that you saw a police SUV
couple officers in the water and no
ambulance yes I do remember that
okay
so
did anyone from your group once Ariel
Ernesto and Nikolai are back with you
did anyone walk over
to where the commotion was going on I
heard somebody did I didn't see
them
prior to
the incident I'll call
it was the what was the atmosphere like
among your group were you guys drinking
listening to music we were listening to
music until the phone got lost cuz that
was the one that was playing the music
on okay um some of them were
drinking okay was Nikolai drinking he
had about two
beers about just an estimate yeah you
were the designated sober driver home
right yeah I was just drinking
water and that was pre-planned that you
would be the one to drive home no it was
not pre-planned
[Applause]
and then after the incident what was
the mood like when you're tubing down
the river
quiet
and I'm not I'm not asking what was said
but while you're tbing down the
river was Nikolai
talking he was I think he was talking to
Amy but I'm not positive okay I didn't
look to
see so when
you fair to say when you guys tube down
the person was still getting
CPR I don't
remember there's the scene was the scene
still
chaotic I don't think it was back then
no no but it was before ambulances
arrived
right I don't know for sure well you
said there you saw a police SUV two
officers in the water no ambulances
right I didn't I don't know for sure I