Des Moines, Iowa woman waives jury trial

(DES MOINES, Iowa)   A Des Moines woman, accused of killing her stepfather has waived her right to a jury trial.

Twenty-nine-year-old Sera Alexander is charged with First Degree Murder in the shooting-death of 49-year-old Anthony Hartmann May 8, 2017.

The shooting happened as Hartmann returned home to get some of his belongings.   Alexander's mother claims her daughter did not know that a restraining order against Hartmann had recently expired.   The trial is scheduled for March 5th in Polk County.

Alexander had previously tried Iowa's new "stand your ground" law as a defense, but the judge ruled it did not apply, because the shooting happened before the law went into effect. 

Online court records state Alexander's decision to waive a jury trial, was made because of pre-trial publicity, complex legal and factual issues involved in the case, and a desire for written findings of fact and conclusions of law.


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