The trial of Nicolae Miu for the deadly stabbing on the Apple River in Wisconsin entered its fourth day in Hudson, Wis. Miu, from Prior Lake, Minnesota, is accused of killing 17-year-old Isaac Schuman and injuring four others on July 30, 2022. The prosecution is working to prove that Miu, 54, was the aggressor, while the defense argues that Miu acted in self-defense.
Content Warning: This post contains graphic descriptions of the stabbing that some may find disturbing.
Day four of the trial began with Janell Duxbury taking the stand as the first witness. Duxbury witnessed Miu stab her friend, Ryhley Mattison, on the river. She described seeing the knife come out of her friend’s side after what she initially thought was a punch. Duxbury then proceeded to help her friend and also assisted in moving another stabbing victim, A.J. Martin, to the riverbank.
Andrea Baldazos was the second witness of the day. She recounted how she and her group were tubing down the river when they noticed the commotion. Baldazos, a nurse, immediately sprang into action to help Schuman, performing chest compressions until the ambulance arrived, despite initially thinking he may have been impaled by branches.
Terry Andersen, the emergency communications manager for St. Croix County, testified as the third witness, detailing the 911 calls received about the stabbings. The court played recordings of the calls, highlighting the chaos and urgency of the situation.
Sergeant John Ferrell of the Somerset Police Department took the stand as the fourth witness and described responding to the scene, where he observed multiple stabbing victims. Body camera footage shown in court depicted the harrowing scene and the efforts to assist the injured.
Patrol sergeant Chase Durand of St. Croix County testified next, detailing his response to the stabbings and the assistance he provided to the victims. His body camera footage provided a firsthand account of the chaotic aftermath.
Former Somerset police officer Levi Stumo’s testimony largely consisted of playing his body camera footage, showing his actions on the day of the stabbings. Stumo’s footage captured the severity of the injuries sustained by the victims.
Deputy Benjamin Trebian of St. Croix County testified about Miu’s arrest, with body camera footage showing Miu in handcuffs. Trebian described Miu’s appearance and demeanor at the time of arrest, noting cuts on his hands.
The prosecution called Mitch Thomason to testify, but the jury was briefly excused to address objections to a portion of body camera footage.