The trial of Nicolae Miu, a Prior Lake man accused of killing a teen and stabbing four others on the Apple River in Wisconsin nearly two years ago, is currently underway in Hudson, Wisconsin. The incident, which took place in July 2022, involved Miu being pushed and hit by a group of tubers on the river before he allegedly stabbed five people, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Isaac Schuman. The victims, aged between 17 and 24, were from both Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Witnesses reported that Miu was initially in the Apple River wearing goggles and a snorkel. The altercation began when a group of tubers accused him of looking at young girls underwater, but Miu claimed he was actually searching for a lost cell phone. The prosecution argues that Miu was the aggressor in the incident, resulting in Schuman’s death and the hospitalization of four others who were stabbed in the torso. A knife believed to belong to Miu was found by officers on the river bank.
Miu’s defense attorneys maintain that he was surrounded and threatened by the group, prompting him to act in self-defense. Despite facing one count of first-degree homicide and four counts of attempted first-degree homicide, Miu pleaded not guilty to all charges in September 2022. If convicted, he could potentially face a life sentence.
The trial is being held at St. Croix County Courthouse in Hudson, Wisconsin. Opening statements can be viewed on various platforms, including CBS News Minnesota, Pluto TV, and the CBS News app, with legal analysis provided by defense attorney Joe Tamburino. The proceedings involve a complex legal battle that will ultimately determine the fate of Nicolae Miu.