DA’s office begins to present its case in Anderson trial

The Samuel Anderson murder trial took center stage in Judge Chuck West’s Evangeline Parish courtroom this week after a jury of 14 was selected on Monday.
Anderson, who is being represented by attorneys Alex “Sonny” Chapman and Greg Cook, has been accused of shooting and murdering K&T Meat Market and Grocery owner Ann Nguyen during an armed robbery that took place at the Ville Platte store on July 28, 2014.
During opening statements assistant district attorney Kelly Tate, on behalf of the state, said, “Police will testify to what they found at the scene of the crime, and eye witnesses will describe what they saw.”
The assistant D.A. then informed the jury that they would hear “testimony that will make a connection between the gun that was found in Samuel Anderson’s backpack and the bullets found at the scene.”
Tate also stated that once all of the “physical evidence” and “expert testimony” has been presented to the jury, “the State will have met its burden of proof.”
The defense however is arguing that their client has been wrongly accused.
Cook addressed the jury during opening statements, and plainly asked, “All I ask you to do is that you keep an open mind, and hear all of the evidence before making a decision.”
During his statement, the defense attorney also said, “The evidence will show that there was a rush of judgement made by police, and it will also show that Mr. Anderson was nowhere around the store at the time of the armed robbery.”
On the first day of the trial, the State called two eye witnesses to the stand that had gone to K&T the day of the shooting to purchase food.
The two eye witnesses both said that when they approached the counter to pay for their items, no one came to wait on them. They then hollered the store owners name, because they figured she was in the back.
At this point, both eye witnesses testified that they then heard someone, who seemed to be trying to impersonate Nguyen, say “no business right now.”
The witnesses said that then, in a non-impersonating voice, a man yelled, “Get the f*** out of the store right now.”
While still in the parking lot of the store, the two women saw a black male exit K&T and leave the store premises on a bike.
Feeling like something was not right, the eye witnesses reported the incident to the Ville Platte Police Department.
The following day Anderson was located at a bus stop in Allen Parish and was picked up by Allen Parish Sheriff Deputies and transported back to Evangeline Parish for questioning.
When the backpack that Anderson had in his possession was searched, a 38-caliber Smith and Wesson pistol was found inside.
During Anderson’s interrogation, he confessed to committing armed robbery and murder.
To testify as to what took place during the interrogation, the State called several law enforcement officers to the stand, who stated that the confession was made freely and voluntarily.
When the defense attorneys cross examined the officers, the defense asked, “Was there any security footage of my client Samuel Anderson committing these crimes at the time of the interrogation.” Each officer answered, “No.”
The defense then asked the officers, who each took the stand separately, why they had told Anderson that there was security footage of him before he made his confession. Although the officers said that they did not tell the defendant that they had footage of him because they knew there were no security cameras at K&T, the transcription of the interrogation told a different story.
Before making his confession, Anderson claimed to have not committed these two crimes, but after the officers made statements during the interrogation like, “We got some film,” and “Camera’s don’t lie, we got you,” Anderson eventually made a confession.
Chapman said, “You were trying to lead my client on, and that’s what you did. You led my client on.”
At this time the State is still presenting its case to the jury.
If convicted of first degree murder and armed robbery, Anderson could spend the rest of his life in prison.