Colin Strickland continues testifying in Kaitlin Armstrong trial
- Kaitlin Armstrong is charged with murder in death of cyclist Mo Wilson
- Colin Strickland, Armstrong's then-boyfriend, took the stand Friday
- He said the two had a 'tumultuous' relationship
maylen
(NewsNation) — Colin Strickland, a competitive gravel racer who had been in a relationship with Kaitlin Armstrong, continued testifying on the fourth day of her trial Monday.
Armstrong, 35, is a yoga instructor accused of shooting and killing professional cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson. She has pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.
Wilson was found unconscious with a gunshot wound to the head May 11, 2022, at a friend’s Austin, Texas home.
During court Friday, Strickland said he and Wilson became romantic while he and Armstrong had been broken up. Eventually, though, Strickland and Armstrong reconciled. Strickland has previously testified that the two began to live together in January 2021, and that Armstrong did not move out, even when they had separated.
On Monday, testimony picked up with the court being shown text messages from Strickland’s phone. At least four people were blocked on the phone, Strickland said, although he did not personally block them himself. One of the people blocked was Wilson, and the other three were women as well.
The text messages shown to the court include one going back and forth between Strickland and Wilson, trying to establish a connection after they realized she was blocked. They also talked about cycling rules and strategy, which Strickland said was the kind of professional communication he normally had with Wilson.
Other text messages show a contact named “Christine Wall,” which the state asked Strickland about.
“It is no one that I know, but it is the name I used in my phone for Mo,” Colin responded. He previously testified he had to change Wilson’s name in his phone to avoid a confrontation with Armstrong.
Strickland said Monday he met with the district attorney to go over his blocked contacts. Defense attorneys said 71 contacts had been blocked in the spreadsheet that was reviewed with the DA.
When asked if it’s possible that he might have personally blocked upwards of 60 contacts, Strickland says he can’t recall or confirm this.
In response to a question about whether he and Wilson sent naked photos to each other, or talked about sex, Strickland said no.
Text exchanges between Strickland and Wilson on the day she died, where the two talked about getting together to go swimming and get food, were shown to the court.
Strickland said that he chose not to respond to texts he’d been receiving from Armstrong that night.
“You know Kaitlin Armstrong very well, don’t you?” the defense asked him.
“No, I do not,” Strickland answered.
Defense attorneys asked Strickland about Armstrong’s behavior, and his perception of it, May 11, 2022. Armstrong did not seem frazzled or out of the ordinary, Strickland said. After speaking to the Austin Police Department the next day, Strickland told Armstrong he was with Wilson the night before, although he testified that she “did not seem upset about that.”
On May 13, Strickland met with a defense attorney and decided to separate himself from Armstrong completely.
At the time of the initial investigation, Strickland said, he felt like Austin Police Department detectives were pushing a narrative.
APD detectives, Strickland said, seemed to be trying to lead him along, which he felt upset about.
In court Friday, Strickland testified that his “on-again-off-again” relationship with Armstrong had been “tumultuous,” a term he was asked about Monday. The relationship, Strickland said, never included verbal assault, physical assault, harassment or abuse.
On May 12, 2022, when he had been questioned by police, Strickland said Armstrong was a wonderful person and very sweet, adding that she was not “a particularly jealous person.” This characterization of Armstrong as jealous, Strickland said, had been one being pushed by police. Meanwhile, Strickland had told police Armstrong was a mild and gentle person who is “not particularly needy” and had never been violent.
Along with the messages and his relationships with Armstrong and Wilson, Strickland was also asked Monday about guns found in his home during a search. While Strickland paid for the guns, he testified Armstrong selected the one she wanted. NewsNation local affiliate KXAN reported that Strickland said he knew Armstrong had practiced with at least one of the firearms at a shooting range last January, but said he had not ever fired the guns.
Monday’s next witness was Kenneth Alan Burrows, a casual cyclist who is friends with Strickland.
Burrows said he was on the phone with Strickland starting at 9:07 p.m. May 11. Police say Wilson was killed around 9:15 at an east Austin apartment. Burrows said Strickland was at home looking through his garage for a bike part while the two were on the phone.
Armstrong’s attorneys pushed Burrows on how he knew for certain that Strickland was home because it was just an audio call, not a FaceTime call.
Detective Richard Spitler with the APD homicide unit was the last to take the stand Monday. The state was still questioning him when the judge called for a wrap on the day.
Spitler said Strickland was cooperative throughout the entire interview process, and said that during the course of his official interview with Strickland, Spitler determined Armstrong needed to be brought in for questioning. Spitler said that was due to the combination of learning the black Jeep with the bike rack at Strickland’s house belonged to Armstrong and the knowledge he gained during the interview from Strickland that there were guns inside the home.
Judge Brenda Kennedy has ruled that testimony will resume Wednesday instead of Tuesday.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.
NewsNation local affiliate KXAN contributed to this article.
