Erie area woman is facing murder charges, from mmj robbery

[chickenman]

Update...
An Erie woman who was arrested on murder charges this week — after she stabbed two men who broke into her house, assaulted her and attempted to steal her medical marijuana — might be able to use Colorado’s “Make My Day” law to defend herself in court, a legal expert said Wednesday.

The law, which allows a person to defend themselves with deadly force when others are breaking into their home or business, was passed in 1985 and has been used several times in criminal cases.

This week, Karen Elaine Cordova, 47, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder after the Saturday morning incident at her home just outside Erie in rural Weld County.

According to affidavits in the case, the two men — Kyle Dust and Stephen Erikson — broke into her home where she sold medical marijuana. Court records state it was the second break-in at the house for the two men, just hours apart.

After the men confronted her in her home and one of them hit Cordova, she then stabbed both men with a 5-inch knife.

Erikson was able to leave the house and drove to a friend’s house in Erie for help. An ambulance was called for Erikson, along with the Erie police. He remains in the hospital in critical condition.

Police later received information that Erikson was with another man, who was also stabbed. They went to Cordova’s home and found Dust’s body in the back yard. As she was being arrested, Cordova said, “I’m not going to lie. What would you do if someone broke into your house at 2:30 in the morning? I’m a single woman.”

Later, after she learned Dust was dead, Cordova stated “Oh my god. I didn’t know that I killed him. They were coming for me. They were coming for me.”

Those circumstances — if it is true the men were burglarizing Cordova’s house — could qualify the case for the Make My Day Law. On Wednesday, the Weld County Public Defender’s Office filed to represent Cordova in court. They couldn’t comment about whether they will be using the Make My Day law as a defense.

The Weld District Attorney’s Office also declined to comment about the case.

However, University of Colorado Clinical Law Professor Ann England said that because of Make My Day, the Cordova case is “compelling.”

 

[RMCG]

"Could" qualify my ass...

THIS is EXACTLY what the law is for. The cops should be high-fiving her.

Regardless of MMJ, if this was a 7-11 or a wood working shop, she did exactly what she should have.

 

[DoobyScoo]

Yeah, but she's got a public pretender...
But they 'couldn't comment', which is a good sign. They probably will bring it up for defense.

 

[TurboAllWD]

Doubt she would have a public pretender if she was in any real trouble. Seems like a pretty cut and dry case where theres no need to spend thousands of dollars on a good lawyer. btw those rippers got what they deserved!

 

[Mr.Sputnik]

wait until it's a cop robbing a turkish caregiver who can wield a kilij..

 

[NaturalTherapy]

"Public Pretender"... love the term.

We have a long way to go before law enforcement sees this medicine as something more than criminal activity. It bothers me that this lady was even arrested, let alone has to justify defending herself to anyone. If the thieves were ripping jewelry, and no grow equipment was in the home, no doubt this story would have a different slant- most likely Lady Cordova wouldn't be digging this judicial mess out her boots.

One part of me says "good thing she didn't shoot them", because obviously then either way she's federally fucked- while the other half of my logic says "damn, I wish she'd popped those fuckers", because it'd be nice to attempt a precedent in our favor regarding firearm possession and mmj designations. All in all, that is a battle those who care will have to wage after we watch the rest of the aspects of the mmj game we care about systematically legalized to death.

And I also can't help but wonder how many thieves smoke grass... I always figured their type usually fell into the meth/junk columns of life wreckery.

All in all a displeasing story to hear. While I have no love for a thief, the days of reveling in the death of a stranger for the sake of an idea of what I think they stood for are well behind me.

Much luck to the Cordova family in getting life back to normal.

 

[ibTheMan]

Shit like this is fuckn dumb, Why would you arrest someone for protecting themselves in there own house? i dont care if your house is full of cocaine, someone comes in your house too rob/kill you and you cant do anything about it? Fuck That Shit!

ANYONE Comes in my house, there get killed or fucked up beyond recognition, let um take me to jail.

She will get off scott free, but it sucks what shes got to go threw for ah while.

WORST THING IN THE WORLD IS A THIEF. PERIOD. IM GLAD THERE DIED/MESSED UP.

 

[Killerapplesauc]

Not necessarily, my neighbor shot a kid in the face in his yard (while fleeing) after he got the other two in his house. Make my day came in to play and he walked. I think it was only in the news is because it was like 15 or 16 yo kids, not that you can tell age at 3am...

Ya their was that one in Texas too when those two guys robbed a house and the owners neighbor came out with shotgun check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPuM_XAo2BE

The black panthers showed up from a different city to protest the guy who shot the bad guys. It didn't work to well because the whole town showed up too to defend the shooter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEZ9s0ZBAu8&feature=related

 

[Killerapplesauc]

Update...
An Erie woman who was arrested on murder charges this week — after she stabbed two men who broke into her house, assaulted her and attempted to steal her medical marijuana — might be able to use Colorado’s “Make My Day” law to defend herself in court, a legal expert said Wednesday.

The law, which allows a person to defend themselves with deadly force when others are breaking into their home or business, was passed in 1985 and has been used several times in criminal cases.

This week, Karen Elaine Cordova, 47, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder after the Saturday morning incident at her home just outside Erie in rural Weld County.

According to affidavits in the case, the two men — Kyle Dust and Stephen Erikson — broke into her home where she sold medical marijuana. Court records state it was the second break-in at the house for the two men, just hours apart.

After the men confronted her in her home and one of them hit Cordova, she then stabbed both men with a 5-inch knife.

Erikson was able to leave the house and drove to a friend’s house in Erie for help. An ambulance was called for Erikson, along with the Erie police. He remains in the hospital in critical condition.

Police later received information that Erikson was with another man, who was also stabbed. They went to Cordova’s home and found Dust’s body in the back yard. As she was being arrested, Cordova said, “I’m not going to lie. What would you do if someone broke into your house at 2:30 in the morning? I’m a single woman.”

Later, after she learned Dust was dead, Cordova stated “Oh my god. I didn’t know that I killed him. They were coming for me. They were coming for me.”

Those circumstances — if it is true the men were burglarizing Cordova’s house — could qualify the case for the Make My Day Law. On Wednesday, the Weld County Public Defender’s Office filed to represent Cordova in court. They couldn’t comment about whether they will be using the Make My Day law as a defense.

The Weld District Attorney’s Office also declined to comment about the case.

However, University of Colorado Clinical Law Professor Ann England said that because of Make My Day, the Cordova case is “compelling.”

I think the main problem she is having is the incident happened on Saturday they didn't find the guys body tell Monday on her property. I don't think she reported the incident and that is what is causing the concerns. I think she was 110% in the right defender herself and her property.

 

[Seamaiden]

I say and say again. If you are going to open your mouth... you say "I was afraid for my life and thought I was going to die!" killing someone for attempting to or stealing your property or for beating you up is not justified for deadly force.

Hope this helps.

Ganj, I love you, but I think you are so wrong here. That woman is exactly my age and if someone began beating on me it could quickly become deadly force. If someone starts beating on me, I'm going to do any and every thing I possibly can to protect myself (which ain't much at the moment). If they're doing it in my home? I have to assume their goal is to kill me.

Doubt she would have a public pretender if she was in any real trouble. Seems like a pretty cut and dry case where theres no need to spend thousands of dollars on a good lawyer. btw those rippers got what they deserved!

I must be a real weenie, because n my world once you're arrested you're in real trouble.

 

[Illmind]

poor lady. i love all the 'if that were me i'd have hit em with incendiary rounds from my aa-12' comments lol. her defense would be easier if she had bruising. damn she got hella knife work, poked these burly fucks with a 5 incher and doa'd the one other in crit. she must of hit some vitals, good girl. beginners luck? where i'm at u can flesh wound and detain unarmed intruders, armed intruders u can smoke, hint it's good to have a lil .25 throwdown hehe. unfortunately this lady is gona end up in trial which can takes years and all the while she's gonna be in county, and u never know what the jury is gonna do. i certainly wouldn't want a pub def doing jury selection my life depends on. the prosecution is obviously gonna say mmj brought them there, and she stabbed 2 unarmed men so i wouldn't wanna be her. o and to the dude who said he thought robbers would be junkies, well most are for the record weed = money or trade leverage for hard drugs.

 

[Green Mopho]

That sucks for her, I hope the courts drop it, but its gonna be a long hard road and a while before she is allowed to have another garden. Thats why I keep my deterrents around...
http://farm2.static.invalid.com/1284/729218216_3ce1cdc163.jpg

 

[NaturalTherapy]

... for the record weed = money or trade leverage for hard drugs.

No shit? All this time I've been giving away branches I could've sold for heroin. Damn

 

[Darth Fader]

Love this story. She's a f'n firebreather! So happy there was not a gun involved so that the FEDs can't go that route. 5" blade -damn, git-er-done girl! Imma go out and buy me a ninja sword now.

 

[Illmind]

ohh sweet out of context quote, but if u read the thread and my whole post you'd see that i said to the dude that said i thought only junkies did stuff like that before your quote. step your comprehension game up. branches? lol. colas u mean? enjoy your heroin, and let this be a lesson 'stay in school kids'!!

 

[DoobyScoo]

And I also can't help but wonder how many thieves smoke grass... I always figured their type usually fell into the meth/junk columns of life wreckery.

Yeah, they only smoke weed when they need to come down, or eat something.
See, it IS medicine.

 

[canaguy27]

so turns out she shot the guy who died and no charges have been filed against her. :)

 

[RMCG]

So my guns are legit then?

 

[motherlode]

that all depends on the DA and where they want to take it

 

[chickenman]

After three days in custody, Karen Cordova, 48, walked briskly out the front doors of the Weld County Jail, shielding her face with a white piece of paper as she stepped into the evening sunlight. A young woman held Cordova around the waist and a man accompanied her to the car. A family friend told reporters that Cordova’s lawyer had advised her not to talk.

“She’s feeling very rattled, but we’re glad she’s out,” said the man who escorted Cordova from the jail. He did not want to give his name.

Given that the attack was inside Cordova’s home, Colorado’s Make My Day Law, which allows even the use of deadly force against intruders, could apply.

But Weld County Sheriff John Cooke said the investigation is far from over.

“I don’t think this case could get much more complicated,” Cooke said. “Unfortunately, it’s kind of a mess right now. We’re just trying to put the pieces together and figure it out.

“I’m not saying she did anything wrong or didn’t,” Cooke said. “But we do need to figure it out. By her own admission, she stabbed someone, so what … we’re trying to figure out, is if it was legitimate or not.”

Buck was not available for comment, and District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jennifer Finch said there would be no further comment given because the investigation was ongoing.