Opinion ID: 2222135
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: cook's arrest and trial

Text: Cook was arrested, and on June 12, 2000, the State filed an information charging Cook with first degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. Cook pled not guilty, and a jury trial was conducted April 16 through 26, 2001. At trial, both Hornbacher and Cook testified regarding the events of April 28 and 29, 2000. Their stories were substantially similar regarding the events of the evening of April 28, but their stories differed markedly regarding the events which occurred after midnight on April 29. Cook got home from work on Friday, April 28, at about 6:15 p.m. and soon thereafter told his wife, Jeanette Cook (Jeanette), that he was going out. Cook and Hornbacher met to work out together at a gym. The two had been friends for several years. They both worked for Norwest Financial and frequently worked out together. After working out, they stopped at a sandwich shop and then went to the apartment shared by Hornbacher and his girl friend, Michelle Childs. Childs had already left the apartment to go to McCormack's sports bar to play volleyball. Cook and Hornbacher went to McCormack's to watch Childs' volleyball game. They drove in Cook's truck and arrived at McCormack's at about 8:30 p.m. Cook and Hornbacher stayed at McCormack's after the volleyball game, socializing with various people. Both drank several beers and some shots. After some time, Childs and Hornbacher got into an argument because she was upset that he was getting drunk and that he did not want to leave when she was ready to go. Childs decided to leave and asked whether Cook could give Hornbacher a ride and whether Hornbacher could stay at Cook's apartment that night. Cook agreed and called his wife, Jeanette, at around 11:40 p.m. to let her know Hornbacher would be staying with them. Jeanette, who was angry with Cook for staying out late, did not answer the telephone and allowed the answering machine to take his message. Hornbacher and Cook stayed at McCormack's for approximately another hour. Hornbacher's and Cook's stories diverge at the point when they left McCormack's. At trial, Hornbacher testified for the State and Cook testified in his own defense. Their differing versions of events are recounted below.