HUDSON, Wis. (FOX 9) - The trial of Nicolae Miu, the man accused of the deadly stabbing on the Apple River in 2022, continues on Tuesday with witness testimony, marking the seventh day of the trial.
READ MORE: Key players in Nicolae Miu's trial
Nicolae Miu, 54, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and multiple counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide that could send him to prison for life if he is convicted. He is accused of killing Stillwater, Minnesota, native 17-year-old Isaac Schuman and wounding four others — Dante Carlson, Tony Carlson, Ryhley Mattison and A.J. Martin — on July 30, 2022.
Witnesses on the seventh day of the Apple River stabbing trial.
READ MORE: Timeline of what happened
You can watch the trial live in the player above and on FOX 9's YouTube channel. Updates on the seventh day of the trial can be found below.
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Apple River stabbing trial: Day 7 recap
Nicole Miu took the stand on Tuesday to testify in his own defense, saying he feared for his life during an attack while tubing on Apple River in Wisconsin that left several people stabbed. The case will soon be in the jury’s hands for a decision, as FOX 9’s Rob Olson recaps the day’s events.
4:18 p.m. - State requests lesser included charges
The prosecution has requested the jury consider lesser charges against Miu:
- For count 1 (the death of Isaac Schuman), also consider: second-degree intentional homicide; first-degree reckless homicide; second-degree reckless homicide
- For counts 2-5 (the stabbings of A.J. Martin, Ryhley Mattison, Tony Carlson and Dante Carlson), also consider: attempted second-degree homicide; first-degree recklessly endangering safety; second-degree recklessly endangering safety
These lesser charges are key for the prosecution if the state fails to prove intent.
The defense objected to these motions.
3:47 p.m. - Defense rests, no state rebuttal
Evidence is closed in the case. The attorneys will discuss some matters with the judge and the jury will be released until 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The attorneys will give closing arguments on Wednesday morning.
2:50 p.m. - Prosecution resumes cross-examination of Miu
Miu said when he returned to the tubes, he put his shirt, hat and sunglasses back on. He saw first responders arrive at the river — he said he was afraid to go back to the area, but he said he does not remember much after that. He said he doesn't remember talking to anyone as they floated away.
The state played a longer version of Sheriff Scott Knudson's body cam video of Miu in the back of the squad car that had not been previously played in court. This longer version was entered into evidence as rebuttal evidence. In the video, he told Sheriff Knudson he heard there was a stabbing. Miu testified he doesn't remember the conversation.
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Apple River stabbing trial: Footage of Nicolae Miu in squad car
A longer version of the video of Nicolae Miu detained in a squad car after the Apple River stabbing was released in court today.
The prosecution then picked apart Miu's interview with Lt. Hart in the jail after the stabbing, which was played in court earlier in the day. The defense had previously admitted Miu lied in the interrogation.
"I lied. I totally lied … I don't even remember the interview," Miu testified about the interrogation.
The prosecution pointed out Miu's ability to remember his feelings when questioned by the defense but his inability to remember things when questioned by the prosecution.
In the defense's rebuttal, Miu said time slowed down during the fight.
2:37 p.m. - Court is in recess
The court is in recess until 2:50 p.m.
1:33 p.m. - State questions Miu
During cross-examination, Miu testified Ariel Chaguez Leyet's phone was in a float case. He was asked why he needed a snorkel and goggles to find a phone that was in a case designed to float and why he went over to Isaac Schuman's group on the south side of the river to look for the phone. He was also asked why he had his knife in his pocket, to which Miu said it happened to be in his pocket. The state also replayed the video evidence, including Miu touching his pocket where Miu had his knife.
Miu said he was not angry until he was called a "Raper." The state also discussed his "anger scale," after the defense mentioned Miu's fear scale earlier in the day.
The state questioned his use of "stumbling" as he approached the tubes, with the prosecutor saying he didn't use this phrase until today. The state also pointed out Miu's false statements in his interrogation video compared to what he testified to on Tuesday.
Miu testified he was "overwhelmed and annoyed" in the video, not smiling. Here is the photo the prosecution referenced:
Nicolae Miu on the cellphone video. Miu testified on Tuesday he was "overwhelmed and annoyed," not smiling.
The state brought up a major topic in the trial — whether Miu hit Madison Coen — to which Miu testified during cross-examination, "I don't know if I touched her or not. It's possible that I did."
The prosecution noted Miu pulled up when he stabbed A.J. Martin instead of pulling out. After he stabbed Martin, Tony Carlson tried to break up the fight. And then Miu stabbed him. "I had milliseconds to think," Miu said.
Ryhley Mattison was the next person stabbed, with the prosecution noting she wasn't punching or kicking Miu when she was stabbed. Then he stabbed Isaac Schuman, who was killed.
"He went for my throat, so I defended myself," Miu said about Isaac Schuman.
The last person stabbed was Dante Carlson. Miu said he thought he was attacking him but the prosecution said Miu had to take a couple steps forward to stab him.
Miu admitted he was the only person who had a knife during the fight.
After the fight, Miu walked up to Ernesto and then instead of walking to the tubing group, he walked to the south side of the river and tossed the knife onto the riverbank. Then he walked back to his tubing group, the state said.
1:03 p.m. - Defense continues questioning Miu
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Apple River stabbing trial: Defense questions Nicolae Miu [FULL]
The defense questioned Miu in his own defense. He shared he was in bad health on the day he was tubing down the river, having had bypass surgery previously. He described his fitness on July 30, 2022, as "very poor." After a lunch break, the defense continued questioning Miu.
After a lunch break, the defense continued questioning Miu.
At this point, he started to feel a 6 or a 7 on his fear scale of 10. After he was pushed, he was afraid, so he pulled out his knife, he testified. He pushed Madison Coen away with his left hand, he said. He did not intend to hurt her, but tried to get her out of his space, he testified. He did not feel safe turning his back on the group.
Miu testified he doesn't remember where she touched Madison Coen, but it would not surprise him that he touched her. After that, he testified, almost right away he got punched in the side of the head and fell into the water, he testified. He said he felt "stunned," and "afraid" — at a 10 on his fear scale. He testified he hit his head on a rock and it felt like his head went underwater. He was punched in the head and when he tried to get up, he was pushed back down into the water, he testified.
He testified he was hit in the head or bumped his head at least four times at this point and his fear was at a 10 out of 10.
He used his knife because he feared for his life, he testified. He did not know how else to escape.
On July 31, 2022, Miu testified he hurt everywhere, including his throat — after seeing the video, Miu recalls hands around his neck during the fight and fearing for his life. In response, he reached out and stabbed Isaac Schuman.
Isaac Shuman's hands on Nicolae Miu's neck, as seen in cellphone video of the attack on the Apple River. (FOX 9)
Miu testifies that his twin brother is in the courtroom, and he loves him. He has spoken with his brother about what happened on the river that day.
Miu testified at some point, people stopped attacking him so he walked away. He didn't stay — he walked away toward his group where it was safe, and he became less afraid. But his head was in a fog, he was stressed, his heartbeat was super high and he had diarrhea.
He testified he tossed the knife because he was afraid, he was "overwhelmed with fear" and "I didn't want to have anything to do with that."
Once he got back to the tubes, he testified he barely remembered anything. He doesn't remember what he told his tubing group, "My head was in a thick cloud. I couldn't understand what just happened — still trying to process everything. I was overwhelmed."
Miu testified he doesn't remember the interview with Investigator Brandi Hart but he said he can't deny he "feared for his life." Miu says he has had nightmares about what happened to him on the Apple River the day he was attacked.
Miu testified when he used the knife, he felt he was under attack — he was pushed, punched, he hit his head. He testified he used his knife to defend himself; he believed he needed to use the knife.
"I believe I would have been killed that day," Miu testified.
1 p.m. - Court expected to return from lunch break
The jury is expected to return from lunch break at 1 p.m.
Noon - Court in recess for lunch break
During Miu's testimony, the court recessed for lunch at noon. The jury will return by 1 p.m.
11:10 a.m. - Nicolae Miu is testifying in his own defense
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Apple River stabbing trial: Nicolae Miu takes the stand
Nicolae Miu took the stand in his own defense. The court broke for lunch before the defense finished their line of questioning.
The defense is questioning Miu in his own defense. He shared he was in bad health on the day he was tubing down the river, having had bypass surgery previously. He described his fitness on July 30, 2022, as "very poor." Miu broke down in tears talking about his dog, "his baby … his angel."
He testified Ernesto Torres Chaguez called him the morning of July 30, 2022, to bring a pocketknife to the river to cut the string that is used to tie the tubes together. At some point on the river that day, Miu testified he volunteered to look for Ariel Chaguez Leyet's phone that had gone missing in the river — he brought his snorkel and goggles with him, along with his pocketknife. Miu admitted to lying to Hart in the interrogation video about not having a knife with him. But he said he did not have the intent to harm anyone — he only left his group to look for the phone.
Miu testified the group asked him what he was doing and he said looking for a phone — he testified he never said he was looking for "little girls," saying "It's pathetic."
Miu testified he saw a teenager holding a phone in a bag. He thought that was the phone he was looking for, so he approached them to see if it was Ariel's phone. He got near the group, stumbled and fell, holding onto their tubes. That's when he lost his goggles and snorkel kit in the water. He admitted this is a different account from what he told Hart in the interrogation video.
Miu said he began looking for his goggles and snorkel set, made his way to the other side of the tubes. At that point, the teenagers warned him but Miu ignored them and continued looking for the goggles and snorkel, Miu testified.
At that point, Miu testified the group of teenagers began getting closer to him. And soon after, people — adults — began coming over from the other side of the river. He then walked toward the adults, including Madison Coen. Miu said Coen was yelling at him and used "awkward" words and ordering him away. Miu testified he was trying to explain what he was looking for.
"They were all calling me names," Miu testified.
Miu then turned his back to the two tubing groups because Coen wasn't listening, he testified. He had not found the snorkel, goggles or phone, and they were still yelling Miu was looking for "little girls." Miu was annoyed and frustrated by their words, he testified.
Then, Miu testified Madison Coen grabbed his arm and he moved toward her. He said his footing was unstable in that area of the river. He then told her not to touch him, and testified his comfort level was very low but he was not afraid in this moment. He testified he was trying to call his group over to help him by waving them over. At the same time, Miu testified Coen waved to call her tubing group over, and they responded.
At this point, Miu testified his fear is "creeping up." And then as his fear got "really high" he reached for his pocketknife, he testified.
When Madison Coen was pushing his left shoulder and yelling at him, he testified, Miu had a knife in his hand because he "was beginning to be afraid."
"I was surrounded. They were yelling. They had just pushed me … they squeezed my arm. It seemed they were not backing away," Miu testified, saying he didn't feel comfortable turning around.
10:51 a.m. - Court is in recess
The state has rested its case. The court is in recess for the judge to discuss items with the attorneys. The judge denied a motion from the defense seeking to drop some of the charges against Miu related to the attempted first-degree intentional homicide charges.
The defense also said Miu intends to testify on Tuesday.
10:27 a.m. - Lt. Brandi Hart's testimony continues
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Apple River stabbing trial: Jailhouse interrogator testimony [FULL]
Lt. Brandi Hart, of the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office conducted the jailhouse interrogation of Miu after the stabbing on the Apple River. The defense acknowledged Miu lied during the interrogation in jail. He told Hart the group of teenagers insulted him and grabbed his snorkel, and threw it — and then another group of mostly girls came over and called him a child molester. He said they attacked him, and he went into self-defense mode. Then he returned to his tubing group, who asked him what happened, but he wouldn't tell them because he needed to calm down.
After Miu's interrogation video was played in court, Hart's testimony continued with cross-examination.
9:10 a.m. - Miu's interrogation video played in court
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Apple River stabbing trial: Interrogation video [FULL]
The interrogation of Nicolae Miu was played in court at the Apple River stabbing trial. In the video, he told Hart he defended himself. He said the tubers had weapons — a smaller knife and a kitchen knife — and he took the smaller knife from them when they attacked him.
Lt. Brandi Hart, of the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office, is the 47th witness to testify. Lt. Hart conducted the jailhouse interrogation of Miu after the stabbing on the Apple River. The defense acknowledged Miu lied during the interrogation in jail.
The interview was recorded — both audio and video — and the video was played in court.
In the video, he told Hart he defended himself. He said the tubers had weapons — a smaller knife and a kitchen knife — and he took the smaller knife from them when they attacked him.
He told Hart the group of teenagers insulted him and grabbed his snorkel, and threw it — and then another group of mostly girls came over and called him a child molester. He said they attacked him, and he went into self-defense mode. Then he returned to his tubing group, who asked him what happened, but he wouldn't tell them because he needed to calm down.
"I feared for my life," Miu told Hart, noting when two people pointed knives at him, "I thought that was it for me." Luckily, he said, he took a knife from one of the teenagers and didn't remember if he made contact with anyone with the knife.
Miu told Hart he did not have a knife on the river — he only had one at the beginning to cut the rope for the tubes, but he didn't know what he did with it — that he may have put it back in his vehicle.
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Apple River stabbing trial: Miu denies having a knife
Nicolae Miu's interrogation video was played in court. Miu said he did not have a knife on the river — he only had one at the beginning to cut the rope for the tubes, but he didn't know what he did with it — that he may have put it back in his vehicle.
During the fight, Miu said he fell in the water, he was hit in the back and hit near the ear. He said, "I was fearing for my life," and he is worried they will find out who he is and do something to his wife, he told Hart.
"I was just floating down the river," Miu said. "Why do these things happen, it's beyond me. I don't understand. I mean, why would they — that many people come down on one person that wouldn't actually do anything? … I truly, truly feared for my life."
Miu told Hart multiple times they tried to pull his swim trunks down.
Hart told Miu four people were hurt and one person died. Miu asked her if it was because the group of people was fighting each other, and then he said, "Oh my god" and put his hands on his head.
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Apple River stabbing trial: Miu reacts to victims' hospitalization
During an interrogation, Lt. Hart told Nicolae Miu four people were hurt and one person died. Miu asked her if it was because the group of people was fighting each other, and then he said, "Oh my god" and put his hands on his head.
Miu then suggested underage drinking needs to end on the Apple River because it has turned into a "sewer."
8 a.m. - Dr. Victor Froloff, assistant medical examiner, testifies
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Apple River stabbing trial: Medical examiner testifies [FULL]
Dr. Victor Froloff, the assistant Ramsey County medical examiner, testified about Isaac Schuman's fatal injuries he suffered during the stabbing on the Apple River.
Dr. Victor Froloff is the assistant medical examiner at the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office. He is the first witness of the day and the 46th witness overall in this trial. Dr. Froloff performed the autopsy on Isaac Schuman on July 31, 2022. Froloff classified his injury as a stab wound to the left chest that damaged his lung and his heart.
As part of the autopsy, Froloff took images of Isaac's body. He testified about what the images showed and detailed his extensive, fatal injuries. The images were given to the jury but were not shown in court. Among them were two ribs that were completely cut, so the weapon went through his rib cage and a sharp force injury to the apex of the heart.
The toxicology report found he was positive for a BAC of 0.219. There were no other substances or drugs, he testified.
His cause of death was a stab wound to the left chest and his manner of death was homicide, Froloff testified. During cross-examination, the defense asked if Froloff was qualified to determine if a homicide occurred as a result of self-defense and Froloff testified he had never testified about self-defense.
Court is scheduled to resume at 8 a.m.
RELATED: Recap of Day 6 of the Apple River stabbing trial
Court is scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The prosecution is expected to call two more witnesses: Dr. Victor Froloff and Lt. Brandie Hart. Hart is the investigator who did the jailhouse interrogation with Miu.
On Monday, the jury heard from witnesses and a trauma surgeon who worked on some of the stabbing victims.
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Apple River stabbing trial: Week 2 testimony
The trial of a man accused of stabbing a teen while tubing on Apple River in Wisconsin is entering its second week, as 10 different witnesses spoke on Monday. FOX 9 has team coverage with all the latest updates.