Second homicide suspect faces trial

By Dan MacArthur
Correspondent

A bloody glove and words of an alleged accomplice constituted sufficient cause to bind over for trial a second suspect in the murder and robbery of two rural Fort Collins residents.

Judge Terence Gilmore ordered that Edward Platzer remain jailed without bail following a combative May 3 preliminary hearing.

Platzer, 39, and Mark Walker, 36, are charged with the murder of Robert Hill, 54, and John Miller, 36, on Feb. 6 at Hill's Cherry Hills Drive home northeast of Fort Collins. Each faces six murder charges, three for each victim.

Hill died of a gunshot wound to the chest and a shattered skull after being clubbed with a table leg. Miller died of two gunshots to the head after he apparently interrupted the murder and robbery of Hill.

Defense attorney William Sublette aggressively challenged Walker's contention that he was coerced by an armed Platzer to unwillingly participate in the robbery and murder orchestrated by Platzer. Sublette sought to discredit Walker as a lying, paranoid methamphetamine user. Gilmore later noted, however, that there was no evidence either suspect was on drugs at the time of the murder.

Sublette pointed out that Walker admittedly had fabricated several stories before settling on the statement given to investigators. Larimer County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Robert Coleman acknowledged that Walker first insisted he knew nothing of the crimes but later claimed they could have been committed by the Mexican Mafia or a jealous husband.

"Mr. Walker told you some stories," Sublette suggested.

"He made some statements," Coleman responded.

"He's a liar isn't he?" Sublette demanded before being met by one of several objections raised by Deputy District Attorney Greg Lammons.

And despite Walker's claims to the contrary, Sublette insisted and Coleman confirmed that there is no physical evidence that Platzer was at the Hill home on the day of the murders.

Sublette said Platzer had no motive for the crimes while Walker by his own admission was angry at Hill, who he believed had seduced his wife with cocaine and expressed lust for Walker's teenaged daughter. Further, Sublette contended that Walker held a grudge against Miller for his dismissal after Miller informed Walker's boss of his drug use.

"Walker is the one who did it," Sublette insisted. "Walker's story doesn't make any sense. Mr. Walker wouldn't be believed by anyone. ...

"Mr. Platzer did not have anything to do with the murder."

But Lammons countered that, according to Walker's statement to Coleman, Platzer's expressed motive was robbing Hill of guns, drugs and money. Further, he said that the glove found in the Dumpster of the Elkhorn Motel, where Platzer was arrested, offered compelling evidence connecting Platzer to the crime. "His (Platzer's) glove has his DNA and Robert Hill's blood on the outside," Lammons said.

"Certainly that is very incriminating evidence," Gilmore concurred. He also agreed that the prosecution, by virtue of Walker's statement in which he implicated himself, had demonstrated motivation by Platzer to commit the crimes.

Platzer's next court appearance is scheduled for June 10 and Walker's the following day. The two men are being tried separately.