Judge rules defendant’s police interview is admissible at murder trial

A judge ruled Thursday that portions of a recorded police interview with a 37-year-old woman can be played at her murder trial scheduled to begin next week.

Shanna Friday faces a reckless second-degree murder charge as a suspect in the beating death of 62-year-old Jerry Lee Deshazer. Police found Deshazer’s body at his home on Feb. 2 in southeastern Lawrence.

Prosecutors accuse Friday of striking and injuring Deshazer during a dispute after a night of drinking at Deshazer’s home. They also allege that she and co-defendant Jerod Buffalohead did not call for help, which caused Deshazer to die.

Buffalohead has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and has been sentenced to five years in prison.

District Judge Robert Fairchild ruled on Thursday that police made Friday aware of her rights during an interview before she was arrested. Friday ended the interview at one point and asked to be taken to jail, according to testimony.

Prosecutors and defense attorney Hatem Chahine have reached an agreement to redact portions of the interview that do not have anything to do with the alleged incident. Friday’s trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Monday.