MURDER TRIAL SET THIS WEEK
CHAD WESTERLUND IS ACCUSED OF KILLING GIRLFRIEND CHELSEA BRAMBLETT IN JANUARY 2020
Chad Westerlund is charged with killing Chelsea Bramblett.
Chelsea Bramblett, in a photo from Facebook, with her children.
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor
UPDATE: The murder trial slated to begin with jury selection on Tuesday was continued due to pending motions.
Jury selection was scheduled to get underway on Tuesday this week in the murder trial of Chad Westerlund, who is charged with killing his girlfriend and the mothaer of his children Chelsea Bramblett on Jan. 25, 2020.
The case is being prosecuted by Wakulla Chief Prosecutor Jon Fuchs. Westerlund is represented by attorney Joe Bodiford.
No final decision had been made by Wakulla Circuit Judge Layne Smith on whether the trial would be a pick-and-go, meaning it would start on Tuesday as soon as a jury was chosen, or whether the case would start on Wednesday.
According to the reports at the time, Bramblett and Westerlund were arguing at their King Bee Drive home. Westerlund was heavily intoxicated and went outside to calm down. He came back inside, saw a shotgun, and on impulse allegedly picked it up and fired at her, hitting her in the head and killing her. She was reportedly nursing a baby when she was shot, though the child was unharmed.
Westerlund reportedly called the sheriff’s office to report the incident and was arrested by responding deputies. He had a blood alcohol level of .1 when taken into custody. A level of .08 is considered legally intoxicated.
Westerlund faces charges of first degree murder and one count of child endangerment.
The trial is expected to last two to three days when it begins. It is not a death penalty case.