WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Trial started Wednesday for Jordan Peters, who is accused of killing his mother in a Clintonville parking lot.
A two-week trial is planned on the one count of first-degree intentional homicide for the Sept. 4, 2023, death of Angela Zahn. Peters, 20, has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Because of the not guilty by reason of mental disease plea, a two-phase trial is planned. First, the jury will determine if Peters is guilty. If he’s convicted, the same jury will hear the second phase of the trial to determine if he should be held responsible for his actions due to a psychiatric condition. If the panel deems Peters could discern right from wrong, the conviction would stand and he would face a mandatory life prison term. If the jury decides he suffered from a mental disease, Peters would be committed to a secure psychiatric facility.
According to the criminal complaint, after Zahn was stabbed, she identified her attacker as Peters.
“He hates me,” she told police, the complaint states. Peters’ explanation to police cited their past history.
“During the interview when asked about what happened Jordan stated ‘I guess I got really angry and was thinking about the past and got to that breaking point and just stabbed her’. Officers asked Jordan why he had the knife with him today and Jordan stated ‘because I had plans to hurt (Zahn).’ Jordan went on to tell investigators that he had wanted to kill (Zahn) for the last year and had begun planning it over the last week,” the complaint states.
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