McCowan
Witnesses are set to begin their testimonies Tuesday morning in the trial of Okemos resident Connor McCowan, who is accused of fatally stabbing MSU student Andrew Singler earlier this year.
Jury selection concluded late Monday afternoon for the trial, which Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Clinton Canady III said could last up to two weeks. Most of the jurors selected were from Lansing, although some Okemos residents also were chosen.
McCowan is charged with open murder, which means he later could face either first or second-degree murder.
McCowan, 19, had an altercation with Singler, 23, on Feb. 23 in Singler’s home in Castle Point Apartments in Meridian Township, according to past State News reports.
Meridian Township police testified in April that Singler sent profane text messages to McCowan, calling him a “whore,” “slut” and a “queer” the night he died. Singler had been drunkenly texting Connor McCowan’s sister Shay McCowan, who he was dating and living with at the time.
Chris Bergstrom, Connor McCowan’s attorney, asked potential jurors many questions regarding their use of social media and texting, as well as their beliefs on an individual’s right to defend themselves.
Shay McCowan texted her brother that night saying Singler had broken her back and ribs, but later texted him to say she was all right. Connor McCowan allegedly drove to Singler’s apartment at Castle Point Apartments in Meridian Township to confront him.
Alumnus Tyler Aho, who lived with Singler at the time, also testified in April and said Connor McCowan arrived at his apartment door with a flip blade. Aho said Singler punched Connor McCowan in the face, causing a fight to ensue until Singler was fatally stabbed in the chest.
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