A man accused of killing a popular northwest Aurora resident last spring near East Colfax Avenue and Havana Street is set to go on trial next week.
Jeffrey Foos, 50, is scheduled to go on trial Monday in Adams County District Court, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty to murder last year and his trial was scheduled for December 2011, but pushed back to next week.
Police arrested Foos on a first-degree murder charge March 27, 11 days after Timothy Blackburn, 53, was found dead in front of a home in the 10300 block of East 16th Avenue, a block northwest of Colfax and Havana.
According to court records, Foos’ trial is scheduled to last one week.
Police later said Foos and Blackburn were “acquaintances,” but declined to discuss further details about the case.
Foos has been held without bond at the Adams County Jail since his arrest.
According to an arrest affidavit, Foos stabbed Blackburn with a large hunting knife during a dispute over Foos’ van. The van had been stolen and Foos believed Blackburn knew where it was, the affidavit said.
Witnesses, including some of Foos’ family, said he told them after the slaying that when he confronted Blackburn, Blackburn came after him with a screwdriver. That’s when he stabbed him.
In an interview with police, Foos said he confronted Blackburn and Blackburn became angry and approached him with something in his hand. Foos said he stood up and kicked Blackburn, knocking the object out of his hand. He then realized the object was a knife, picked it up and stabbed Blackburn.
Foos told police he then washed his hands at Blackburn’s house before fleeing on foot.
A judge ruled last year there is ample evidence for Foos to stand trial.
In the days after Blackburn’s slaying, police released his mug shot in hopes that someone would recognize the well-known northwest Aurora resident who went by the nicknames “Bird” and “Birdman.”
According to state records, Foos has been arrested dozens of times since the early 1980s on charges including assault, failure to appear in court and harassment.
Reach reporter Brandon Johansson at 720-449-9040 or bjohansson@aurorasentinel.com
What is the result of trial what did he receive as punishment?
wow?!?