Key Witnesses Take Stand in Plover Murder Trial
By Lisa Pett
The mother of a Plover man accused of the beating death of his stepfather gave testimony in his murder trial on Monday.
Jennifer Pray, Andrew Pray’s mother and wife of victim Chris Bonnstetter, was called as the first witness by the prosecution.
As the only eyewitness to the attack, Jennifer Pray’s testimony is key in establishing the events of May 26, 2014, when her son, Andrew, allegedly attacked Bonnstetter in the living room of the Plover home that the three shared.
Under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Cass Cousins, Jennifer Pray had trouble recalling details of the attack, which she attributed to possible shock. She said she saw “a blur” and heard “three or four sounds” which she could not describe for the court.
She stated that she had been considering divorce from Bonnstetter in the months leading up to the attack and that her son had went with her to see a divorce attorney in February of 2014.
Cross examined by defense, Jennifer Pray described her son as non-confrontational and said he avoided his stepfather, even when teased or threatened. “He [Andrew Pray] wouldn’t hurt a fly,” she said.
This prompted further questions by ADA Cousins who asked her if her husband died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the attack by her son. “Yes,” she replied.
Other witnesses scheduled to be called are the neighbors who responded to Jennifer Pray’s calls for help, EMTs and law enforcement officers who responded to the scene, as well as psychologists who examined Andrew Pray.