March 13, 2012 at 8:41 a.m.
Alleged victim testifies in stabbing case
After hearing from the alleged victim and the investigating officer Monday, Reserve Judge Robert E. Kinney found there is probable cause to believe Shannon Wolf committed at least one felony and bound him over for further proceedings.
Wolf is charged with strangulation/suffocation (domestic abuse), first degree reckless endangerment (domestic abuse), negligent handling of a weapon, misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property.
According to the complaint, Det. Sgt. Josh Pudlowski of the Rhinelander Police Department responded to Sutliff Avenue, near the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce, at approximately 9:37 a.m. Feb. 1 after receiving a report that a woman was being beaten and stabbed.
The alleged victim, who was visibly emotional throughout her testimony, told the court she went to the Ripco Credit Union drive-thru that morning and noticed Wolf's car in the parking lot. After she and her companion left the credit union, she testified Wolf pulled out behind them and got "right up on our rear end."
She said the driver of her vehicle lightly stepped on the brakes "to warn (Wolf) to back off" but he responded by passing them and slowing down. She said her vehicle attempted to pass again and Wolf responded by intentionally striking her vehicle with his vehicle.
After both vehicles were stopped, the woman said Wolf smashed her car window with his fist, reached in and started stabbing her with a knife.
He kept repeating "die, bitch, die," she testified.
The woman said she reacted by curling up into the fetal position. She said she suffered injuries to her leg, hand and shoulder in the attack.
After he dropped or lost control of the knife, the woman said Wolf put her in a chokehold. She said she thought he was trying to pull her through the window.
After he let her go, the woman said Wolf told her, "I'll see you later," a comment she interpreted as a threat.
During cross-examination, public defender John Vorhees asked a number of questions about whether the woman or her companion made any gestures toward the defendant while at Ripco and whether she had told Wolf she was going to Ripco that day.
The woman denied making any gestures toward Wolf, or making eye contact with him, and testified she specifically told him to "stay away from my bank."
According to the complaint, Wolf told police he went to Ripco to meet with the woman to talk about their break-up and was upset when he saw her with another man. He claimed the woman gave him the middle finger and her companion raised his hands in the air while passing him in the credit union parking lot. He also told police the collision was the other driver's fault.
Pudlowski testified about Wolf's arrest and police interviews.
Pudlowski told the court Wolf tried to leave the scene and when he was asked to stop he repeatedly asked Pudlowski to shoot and kill him.
In a later interview, Pudlowski said Wolf admitted he "snapped" and stabbed the woman.
Following testimony, Vorhees made a motion to dismiss the strangulation/suffocation count on the grounds the evidence presented during the preliminary hearing indicates Wolf was not intending to strangle or suffocate the woman but was trying to pull her out of the car.
"It's the defense position, at this stage, there wasn't an intent to take her life," Vorhees said.
Kinney denied the motion but noted it will be up to a jury to determine Wolf's intent.
"There's enough evidence here to certainly put this matter to a jury and ultimately the inferences that will have to be gleaned from the testimony will have to be decided upon by the jury," he said.
Wolf faces more than 20 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
He will be arraigned March 26.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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