Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 15, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba a6 Winnipeg free press tuesday August 15, 2006 top news where student killed key to defence lawyer argues Sjodin did to die across state lines eliminating Chance of death penalty warning to readers some details in the following Story Are graphic in nature. by Mike Mcintyre f Argo . ? the question of whether a convicted sex offender should live or die May turn on the geographical matter of where he raped and murdered University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin jurors heard yesterday at the opening of a High profile death penalty trial. Alfonso Rodriguez jr., 53, has pleaded not guilty to a Federal charge of kidnapping leading to death. The charge alleges that Rodriguez abducted Sjodin in North Dakota and killed her across state lines in Minnesota and makes him eligible for capital punish ment upon conviction. The details of Sjodin Skilling were revealed for the first time yesterday As assistant . Attorney Keith Reisenauer made his opening statement. Sjodin 22, was kid napped in november 2003 from the Busy Columbia mall parking lot in grand Forks in a Case that attracted International attention and sparked an intensive ground and air search. The body of the Blond haired Blue eyed woman was found five months later in a Ravine near Crook Ston minn., after Snow melted. Sjodin was nude from the Waist Down her hands bound behind her Back a rope around her neck and the remnants of a plastic bag still around her face. She had also suffered a slashed Throat and Possi ble Stab wound to the Chest. He left her in a ditch to die said Reisenauer who also alleges that Rodriguez sexually assaulted Sjodin before killing her. Rodriguez a lawyers also made an opening state ment yesterday and offered up an unusual defence ? taking no Issue with the allegation Rodriguez killed Sjodin but focusing almost entirely on where the murder took place. Defence lawyer Robert Hoy told jurors Rodriguez should to face Federal charges because Sjodin was Likely already dead by the time she got to Minnesota. This is simply the wrong charge in the wrong court. Its entirely possible Dru Sjodin died. In a matter of minutes while still in the Columbia mall parking lot. The transportation of a deceased per son across state lines is not a Federal kidnapping said Hoy. Hoy said prosecutors Laid the Federal charge in their Zeal to become involved in an already highly publicized he said Rodriguez should instead be facing a state charge of murder which would not make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. An autopsy could to provide a conclusive cause of Sjodin a death but found asphyxiation trauma and or exposure to the Winter elements could All be factors Reisenauer said. Doctors were also unable to pinpoint a time of death. Police found Sjodin a cellphone just a few feet away from her body ? a discovery that could prove critical for the theory of the prosecution. Sjodin had called her Boyfriend Chris Lang As she walked out of Columbia mall around 5 . Fol lowing her shift at the Victoria a secret. The line suddenly went dead. Police believe it was at that moment Rodriguez grabbed Sjodin and forced her into his car. Lang was concerned and called Back at least eight times but got no answer. His Hopes were briefly raised when he got a Call from Sjodin a number around 8 . However Lang could Only hear Static and muffled sounds. The connection was lost again said Reisenauer. Police traced the Call to a cellphone Tower near Crookston minn., and focused much of their search on the area but were initially unable to find any thing. But prosecutors intend to argue that phone Call proves she was still alive while in Minnesota. Police began looking at known sex offenders in the area and interviewed Rodriguez two Days after Sjodin went missing. He was living at the time about 6.5 Kilometres from where Sjodin a body would eventually be found. Rodriguez admitted he had been in grand Forks on the Day in question to do some shopping but claimed he was in a movie theatre at the time said Reisenauer. When asked to name the movie Rodriguez initially could to but later told police it was once upon a time starring Antonio bandages he said. However his apparent Alibi began to unravel when police checked around and Learned the movie want playing anywhere in grand Forks at the time he said. Police got a warrant to search Rodriguez Shehi Cle and Home and made several key discoveries. A knife ? Matching an empty Sheath found near Sjodin a car in the grand Forks parking lot ? was in the trunk. Rodriguez claimed he was using it to Cut Sheet Rock but his employer claimed that was it True. Police also found tiny droplets of blood in Rodriguez a car which they eventually matched with Sjodin Edna. Forensic experts were also Able to find a strand of Rodriguez a hair on Sjodin a body and fibres from Sjodin a shirt and jacket on his boots gloves and in his car. you can read More about this Case on Mike Mcintyre a personal blog at Canadian recalls desperate search for missing Friend by Mike Mcintyre Fargo . ? Canadian air Force Pilot Julian White said yesterday he will never forget the Des Perate search for his Good Friend Dru Sjodin or the void left in his life by her tragic death. White who is currently living in Moose jaw sask., was in Fargo As one of the first witnesses to be called in the death penalty murder Case against Alfonso Rodriguez. White was one of the last people to speak with Sjodin and raced around grand Forks the night she disappeared hoping to find a Trace of her. She was a bubbly Happy girl. Everybody loved her. She was an american sweetheart White told reporters yesterday outside court after finishing his testimony. White met Sjodin while both were attending the University of North Dakota. White ? who returned to Canada after completing his aviation studies ? was also dating Sjodin a Roommate Margaret Flate Graff at the time. He was in Toronto on the Day Sjodin went missing but spoke with her briefly around noon. Sjodin mentioned she was on her Way to work. White told jurors yesterday he flew to Winnipeg and then drove Back to grand Forks later that evening. He arrived at his girlfriends apartment to learn Sjodin had to been heard from since her phone went dead in a conversation hours earlier with her Boyfriend. I went out to look for her and was driving the route Between drus apartment and the mall. I drove All around but i found nothing White told court. White said he even checked one of the parking lots at Columbia mall but did to see her car. Police found it hours later in another nearby lot. Flategraff testified yesterday How she called 911 when Sjodin did to come Home that night. Several other concerned friends gathered at her apartment to worry and wait. Danielle Mark a Good Friend and sorority sister of Sjodin a told court yesterday How they a gone out for dinner the previous night following a fun filled initiation week. She tried to Call Sjodin several times on the evening she went missing and could to understand Why there was no answer. primary Home line Shaw digital phone is a Home phone service that gives you More features than you Ever thought possible including Voicemail Call waiting and Call display. You la also get unlimited Long $2995 per distance calling within Canada and the ., As Well As 1000 month International Long distance minutes to Europe and Asia Pacific. From you can switch for just $29.95 a month for the first six months. Call 480-Shaw to Book your complimentary installation. 24/7/365service introductory offer of $29.95 per month for the first 6 months Only. After the 6 month promotional period Standard Shaw digital phone rates apply. This offer applies to new Shaw digital phone customers Only. Must not have had Shaw digital phone in the past 60 Days. No internet connection required. Unlimited Long distance is intended for residential calling Only. Chat lines data fax commercial use and or Long distance Calls made using Call Forward and 3-Way calling Are prohibited. Shaw digital phone includes Only 1000 minutes of International calling per month and is limited to specified destinations. Mobile phone and outlying territory terminations Are not included except where noted on . Additional 1000-minute blocks of minutes Are tax 60 ;