No verdict in Travis Standlee murder trial, jury will resume deliberations Tuesday

CEDAR RAPIDS — The jury in the Travis Standlee murder trial will resume deliberations Tuesday in Linn County District Court.

The defense and prosecution rested their cases and the jury started deliberating about 1:45 p.m. Monday.

Standlee's lawyers didn't call any witnesses and rested after reading into the record a deposition of a Hiawatha police officer. The officer told Cedar Rapids police investigator that he saw Standlee having a 'verbal altercation' with Raymond Ursino, 56, who Standlee is accused of strangling and killing Sept. 5. 2105.

The trial for Standlee, 44, started last week. According to testimony, Ursino died of manual or hand strangulation. The prosecution wrapped up its case after showing video from downtown surveillance cameras that tracked the two men's activities in those early morning hours.

During a police interview on Sept. 9, investigator Nick Nolte told Standlee that Hiawatha Police officer Brett Bartels had seen him 'fighting' or in a verbal altercation with Ursino about 2:45 a.m. in front of the Cedar Rapids Art Museum on Sept. 5.

According to the deposition, Bartels said he saw Standlee walking backward arguing or talking to the other man, identified as Ursino. There was no physical fight. It could have been just a conversation between the two men, he said.

A video played for the jury last Friday shows that the interaction occurred before Standlee and Ursino appear to have a physical fight in the First Presbyterian Church parking lot about 3 a.m. The video shows only Standlee got up off the ground after 28 minutes. Ursino was found dead in the parking lot later that same morning. The video shows the men from a distance, and trees obstruct a clear view of the fight.

In the video, both men are identifiable by hats they were wearing, and Standlee is carrying a guitar and backpack throughout the night.

David Grinde, Standlee's lawyer, also made two motions for a directed verdict of acquittal on first-degree murder, with which Standlee was charged, and the lesser charge of second-degree murder, which the jury could consider if they find Standlee not guilty of first-degree murder. Grinde argued the prosecution didn't prove Standlee had malice aforethought, willful deliberation or specific intent to kill Ursino.

Sixth Judicial District Chief Judge Patrick Grady denied the motions, saying there was sufficient evidence on both charges for the case to go forward to the jury.

Standlee also faces another first-degree murder charge in the strangulation death of Sharon Mead, 41, whose body was found Sept. 11 near Coe College. That trial is separate and set to begin in August.