William Zelenski at trial, June 19, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – William Zelenski’s trial started Monday for allegedly killing Ryelee Manete-Powell for stealing his exotic pets.
Zelenski is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the Oct. 19, 2020, shooting.
Opening statements were held Monday. The trial is expected to last all week.
Assistant District Attorney Veronica Isherwood played Zelenski’s 9-1-1 call, in which he said Manete-Powell “attacked me and I fired.” Manete-Powell wasn’t armed, and didn’t lunge at Zelenski. And Zelenski’s actions show intent, she argued.
“The judge is going to instruct you on intent, and what does it mean “intent to kill?” And you’re going to ask yourself, and discuss amongst you at the end of this trial if Bill Zelenski intended to kill Ryelee. And he’s going to explain that that intention can be formed in an instant. It doesn’t mean that a week before he planned this. But when you press a gun, hard, against somebody’s armpit, and you pull the trigger on a double-barreled, 12-gauge shotgun, that’s going to kill somebody or it’s practically certain to kill somebody,” she said.
Defense attorney Timothy Hogan said Zelenski’s intent was to find his animals. And with some of his weapons also missing, was afraid for his life.
“Accidents happen. Crimes are committed. And what happened on Oct. 19 of 2020 wasn’t a vicious, intentional crime. It was an accident. A tragic accident, caused when Ryelee grabbed the shotgun from Bill, and tried to pull it at himself, away from Bill. An accident. Bill didn’t intend to kill Ryelee. He didn’t intend to hurt Ryelee that night. He didn’t intend to shoot him. It was an accident,” Hogan said.
Manante-Powell’s mother, Tiffany Powell, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the sequence of events leading up to the murder, including pointing a gun at her son while he and Zelenski faced off in a Waupaca street.
According to the criminal complaint, the Manente-Powell and Ashton Tody stole multiple animals, including a crocodile, bearded lizard, snakes, and other items. Tody was convicted on placed on probation for three years.
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