Police charge second man in Mankato beating case
A second man has been charged in connection with a weekend fight that left a former Minnesota State University Mankato football player critically injured.
Blue Earth County authorities charged 21-year-old Trevor Stenner Shelley of St. Peter, Minnesota, with two felony assault counts.
Witnesses identified Shelley as the man suspected of punching 24-year-old Isaac Kolstad and knocking him to the ground, though Shelley told police he did not hit anyone, according to the complaint.
Shelley left Blue Earth County Jail Wednesday afternoon after posting a $2,000 bond.
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On Monday, former University of Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson was charged with two similar counts. He allegedly kicked Kolstad in the head. According to the charges, a witness saw Kolstad strike Nelson first.
Determining which injury caused more damage will be key in this case, assistant Blue Earth County attorney Pat McDermott said.
Self-defense may be also be an issue.
Shelley's attorney, Michael Padden, said he expects to argue self-defense.
"You do not have to be assaulted for self-defense to be a viable defense in a criminal case," Padden said.
"Minnesota law provides that everybody has a right to defend themselves," McDermott said, "But with that right to defend themselves, they have to act reasonably and use reasonable force and they also have a duty to retreat. That is an issue that will be decided by 12 jurors."
Kolstad remains in critical condition at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.