March 25, 2005

COLUSA – Andrew Mickel, on trial for the 2002 murder of Red Bluff police officer David Mobilio, used his opening statement today to confess to jurors that he fired the fatal shots.

"I did ambush and kill Officer David Mobilio," the 25-year-old Washington resident told the panel.

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But in his brief statement Mickel, who faces a possible death penalty if convicted, urged juors to hold off on their judgment and allow him to explain his actions.

Holding up a ball that was black on one side and white on the other, Mickel told jurors that the prosecutor, Red Bluff District Attorney Gregg Cohen, was painting only half the picture of what happened when Mobilio was shot on Nov. 19, 2002, as he refueled his patrol car at a North Main Street gas station in Red Bluff.

Mickel, who is representing himself at the trial, promised to supply jurors with the rest of the story.

Mobilio, 31, died at the gas pumps.

Mickel’s statement was proceeded by Cohen’s opening statement, which was identical in its brevity.

Both statements were concluded within 35 minutes after jurors first took their seats at about 9:30 a.m.

Cohen’s presentation included a short slide show with pictures of Mobilio and the gas station where he died.

Cohen retraced Mickel’s steps after the fatal attack, from Red Bluff to Oregon to Washington and finally to New Hampshire, where the suspect was captured at a motel a few days after the shooting.

Mobilio’s widow, Linda, was one of the spectators in the packed courtroom.

Cohen’s first witness was a gun shop owner who sold the alleged murder weapon to Mickel.

The trial, which is expected to last from two and a half weeks to a month, was moved to Colusa on a change of venue after a judge ruled that pretrial publicity prevented Mickel from getting a fair trial in Red Bluff.