Closing arguments are expected today in the Michael Swanson convenience store murder trial after the prosecution finished presenting its case on Wednesday. The defense called one witness Wednesday, Swanson’s mother Kathy, who testified about the troubles Michael has been in since he was three.
She said he was diagnosed with A-H-D and a conduct disorder and began taking a series of medications that Mrs. Swanson says didn’t really work. The troubles continued for Michael, who admitted to his mother that he had thought about hurting his grandma and aunt at times because he was upset with them.
Mrs. Swanson said on the weekend prior to the November 15th shooting Michael appeared to be good and she hoped he had turned the corner. But on the morning of the 15th she found Michael missing along with her jeep and debit cards and said she knew something bad was going to happen.
During cross examination Mrs. Swanson admitted to talking to her son after his arrest about bi-polar disorder and his need to see a psychiatrist. When asked by the prosecutor if she had spent 18 years trying to keep Michael out of trouble, she said yes.
By Jeff Blankman, KCIM, Carroll