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Jonathan Hans Minor, 23, is charged with attempted murder, assault causing severe bodily harm and burglary. He appeared in Winona County District Court on Thursday for a final pretrial hearing before his weeklong jury trial was slated to begin May 12. That trial won’t begin until Sept. 19.
Minor’s defense attorney, Rich McCluer, said he hasn’t received all of the medical records for the victim, Steven Donald Adams, including
X-rays and CT scans referenced by other portions of medical records he does have. He also requested the victim’s blood-alcohol concentration because he suspects the victim was drunk and there may be an element of self-defense involved in the stabbing.
Assistant Winona County Attorney Tom Gort said his office has disclosed everything released to it by multiple hospitals Adams visited. He also argued there was no relevant information contained in the scans and
X-rays. He said all expert testimony at trial will be based on care given after the scans were taken, not the interpretation of them.
McCluer said the county attorney’s office hasn’t asked for everything. On medical records release forms, checkboxes requesting the victim’s blood-alcohol concentration, X-rays and CT scans were left blank, McCluer said.
As well, McCluer said, those scans would show the severity of Adams’ injuries, which is essential on charges that reference bodily harm. McCluer said he needs those scans so an expert can analyze them and interpret whether the injuries justify the charges.
Gort said McCluer should have asked for the documents much sooner in the proceedings.
Judge Jeff Thompson agreed it should have been done sooner, but ordered the county attorney’s office to gather a complete set of Adams’ medical records and turn them over to the defense.
According to the criminal complaint, Minor and a friend came to Winona to celebrate Minor’s birthday on Feb. 7, 2006. Minor said if anyone prevented them from having fun that night, he would “carve them up like a turkey” with a four-inch knife. He was thrown out of Schyde’s Drinks and Whatnot and tried to re-enter when he got into a scuffle with Adams, an off-duty bouncer. Minor allegedly stabbed Adams five times and almost sliced off his own pinky finger during the fight.
Minor is scheduled to re-appear in court for a new
pretrial hearing Aug. 14.
Contact Kevin Behr at (507) 453-3524 or at kbehr@winonadailynews.com.
