Judge won’t move trial for Cedar Rapids man accused of fatally stabbing Devonna Walker

CEDAR RAPIDS — A judge will not move the manslaughter trial out of Linn County for a Cedar Rapids man, who is accused of fatally stabbing a woman at his doorstep last year, because there is “insufficient evidence of actual prejudice” based on pretrial publicity.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Jason Besler, in his ruling filed Wednesday, said there isn’t enough evidence at this time to show that potential jurors in Linn County have formed opinions regarding the innocence or guilt of Shane Teslik, 38, to the extent that a fair and impartial jury can’t be selected.

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“The publicity in this case has not been shown to be pervasive and inflammatory so that prejudice must be presumed,” Besler said in the ruling.

Teslik is charged with voluntary manslaughter and disorderly conduct — epithets/threatening gesture. He is accused of fatally stabbing Devonna Walker, 29, of Cedar Rapids.

John Bruzek, Teslik’s lawyer, argued last week during a hearing that his client couldn’t get a fair trial in Linn County because of the hundreds of social media posts and videos made about this incident which contain false and inflammatory information.

Besler, in his ruling, said he had reviewed the social media postings and videos, which varied in content, about the incident. Some postings were memorials for Walker, others promoted rallies or protests that were going on because Teslik wasn’t initially charged after the stabbing. There also were postings that simply presented facts but there were some that were inaccurate, biased and advocating for charges to be filed.

The most “problematic” video was one shown during last week’s hearing, Besler said. It intermingled actual news coverage from TV stations with commentary from the person who made the video. It was labeled “Chilling Video of Racist Neighbor.” It calls the offense “murder” and claims dogs attacked Walker. The focus of the video was getting justice for Walker, the judge said.

Besler, in the ruling, said there was no indication how many potential jurors within Linn County saw it. It was published Jan. 18, 2023 after the fatal stabbing on Jan. 2, 2023.

The social media and news reports don’t constitute “pervasive and inflammatory” coverage, Besler ruled. There didn’t seem to be a concern raised by Teslik regarding traditional media coverage and the court didn’t observe any basis for a complaint. It “appears” that coverage has been factual and accurate.

The primary complaint from Teslik was the social media coverage, but both Teslik and the prosecution stated there is no Iowa law regarding social media coverage regarding a motion for change of venue.

Besler said they will call enough potential jurors for trial, so they can dismiss or strike any jurors who have opinions about the case, but he expects that number to be small.

Teslik can reassert his request to move the trial if there is evidence that comes out of jury selection to show he can’t get a fair trial with an impartial jury, according to the ruling.

According to a criminal complaint, Teslik, who is white, had called Walker, who is Black, an “abusive racial” epithet or slur before she “charged” at him, pushing Teslik’s wife to the ground. Walker then struck Teslik twice on the left side of his face before he stabbed her, the complaint stated.

Teslik was provoked by Walker’s assault on him and his wife and he acted out of “sudden, violent and irresistible passion,” according to the complaint. Teslik “didn’t regain control or suppress the impulse to kill” and used a knife he retrieved from his home and stabbed Walker once in the left side of her chest.

An autopsy showed Walker died from one fatal stab wound, and alcohol and drugs were in her system.

At trial, Teslik plans to claim he had the right to defend himself in his home against unlawful entry by force of another, according to a motion he filed last April.

In that motion, he also said he had the right to defend himself against a forcible felony — first degree burglary.

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