(Spirit Lake)– More testimony today (Thurs.) in the trial of Allison Decker, charged in the 2020 death of Angel Bastman in Lake Park. Mathew Burns, a special agent with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation testified about data retained from a cell phone belonging to Decker, along with social media communications between Decker and Justice Berntson, who was also charged in Bastman’s death. Burns testified that included a brief video on Facebook Messenger in which Decker makes reference to “borrowing”, or stealing items from the house in Lake Park in which Bastman died. Burns also detailed text messages and other records that indicated Decker was contacting witnesses in the case in an effort to influence their testimony while she was in jail. Under cross examination by defense attorney Ned Bjornstad, Burns testified fingerprints on a belt found around Bastman’s neck were inconclusive. Burns, again under cross examination, also referred to injuries he saw on Berntson’s arm during an interview follow Bastman’s death…
Burns added that Berntson was giving conflicting statements regarding the belt. Following a break for lunch, the defense argued some notes that were used to refresh the memory of special agent Burns should be included as exhibits, making a motion to that extent which was denied by the judge. Bjornstad then called for a mistrial to be declared, which was also denied by the judge. The state then rested its case.
The defense opened its case this (Thurs.) afternoon but not until after several recesses to work out arguments over defense witnesses and certain testimony that would be given. Testimony then resumed with the defense calling its first witness, Lake Park Police Chief Tony Irwin, who also took the stand Wednesday for the state. In his testimony today, Irwin spoke of a list of names Angel Bastman had given him of people with whom she had concerns about. Irwin testified that he was the only person with whom Bastman shared that list with.
Written testimony from a second defense witness, Jason Persons, was read into the record by Bjornstad. In that testimony, Persons talked about being incarcerated with Berntson in the Woodbury county jail and that Berntson told him he had killed a woman in Dickinson county.
Court then recessed for the day. Proceedings are to resume at 9:00 am tomorrow.
