FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - A northern Arizona judge says a man accused of shooting four Northern Arizona University students cannot use statements he made to police about being scared in his defense.
Judge Dan Slayton ruled Thursday that statements Steven Jones made after the shooting of Colin Brough, 20, would be inadmissible as part of his self-defense claim against the first-degree murder charge.
Jones, 20, has pleaded not guilty to murder and aggravated assault charges. He is accused of killing Brough just off the university’s Flagstaff campus in October 2015 and wounding three others.
When he was arrested, Jones told police, “I’m so scared” and “Please help them, I’m so sorry.” When he was placed in the back of a squad car, a dashboard camera recorded him saying, “Why did they punch me?” and “Why did they chase me?”
Slayton will not allow Jones’ statements to witnesses about committing the shootings in self-defense and comments about being scared to be read in court. Slayton said those statements were “self-serving,” a legal term.
“I don’t think that being scared is a relative issue in negating intent,” Slayton said. “You can intend to kill somebody and still be scared out of your mind.”
However, Slayton would not disallow all of Jones’ “self-serving” statements. He said he wouldn’t make a blanket ruling on statements he didn’t know the context of.
Jury selection in the case is slated to begin April 4. Jones is out of custody and living with his parents in Glendale while awaiting trial.
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