Adam Raszynski Trial Begins, Accused Of Stomping Mother To Death

Monday marked the first day of the jury selection process for a Lafayette, Colorado, man accused of stomping on his 60-year-old mother's head and neck until she died.

Adam Raszynski, 34, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in August, claiming that he acted in self-defense after his mother shot him five times at their home in February 2011.

Raszynski had been living with his mother, Rita Redford, after being released from a Florida prison for aggravated stalking.

According to an affidavit obtained by the Daily Camera, Raszynski called 911 three times to report an argument with his mother on Wednesday Feb. 24, 2011.

"Adam said his mother shot him and that he was dying," according to the affidavit. Raszynski told a detective that his mother had come down the stairs shooting at him, and told police officers that he had stomped on his mother head.

Raszynski went to the hospital that same day in critical condition while details of his relationship with his mother emerged, writes Westword.

In January, an officer testified during Raszynski's pre-trial hearing that he'd visited the home on a welfare check in 2011 shared by the mother and son on Whitetail Road in Lafayette. The officer testified that Redford had told him that she kept a gun in her bedroom in case her son broke in, but also refused to turn him out into the street.

Raszynski's sister, Jennifer Billings, also testified that her mother was fearful of Raszynski and claimed he would take acid.