Trial of former punter goes to jury

~ The former Northern Colorado player could be convicted of attempted murder of a teammate.

GREELEY, Colo. -- Prosecutors and the defense finished their closing statements Tuesday, sending the case of a former Northern Colorado backup punter accused of trying to kill the starter to the jury.

Court recessed Tuesday before the jury had a chance to deliberate.

Mitch Cozad, who did not testify, is charged with attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault in the attack on Rafael Mendoza last Sept. 11.

"It's going to be nerve-racking," Mendoza said as he left the courtroom with his family. "It's up to the jury whether he's found guilty or not. If not, well then, I have to keep moving on. If he is, same thing. Football starts tomorrow, and that's where my focus has to be."

Police and prosecutors have said the attack was a bid to get the starter's job.

"The defendant was willing to do anything to play football. No matter how hard he tried on the football field he could not compete with Mr. Mendoza at his skill level. And the only option was to take it off the field, and that's what he did," prosecutor Michele Meyer said during closing statements.

"He tried to kill him. Swiped at him twice, couldn't get him, so he stabbed him in the back of the leg," she said.

Mendoza was attacked outside his apartment in Evans, a small town adjacent to Greeley. He was left with a deep gash in his kicking leg but later returned to the team.

He testified he could not see who attacked him. Defense attorney Joseph Gavaldon has argued it was not Cozad but another Northern Colorado student -- Kevin Aussprung, who testified he was with Cozad the night of the attack.

Gavaldon pointed the finger at Aussprung in his opening and closing statements.

Aussprung testified earlier in the trial that Cozad offered him money to watch his car. Aussprung said Cozad did not tell him what happened, and he did not ask.

"He pulled the wool over their eyes, he pulled the wool over the district attorney's eyes because he's not charged," Gavaldon said.