Brian Fullhart takes the stand in his own defense

Brian Fullhart testified in his own defense Wednesday as his first degree murder trial went into its fifth day in Cresco.  Fullhart is standing trial for allegedly killing his wife, Decorah native Zoanne Fullhart, March 1st of 2018.

Fullhart said "the atmosphere was tense" on February 28th because people were implying Zoie was cheating on him.  "People would keep rubbing it in my face," he testified.

He was then asked about the night of the shooting.  "We were all on meth," he said of Zoie and himself, as well as his friend Torrey and Torrey's girlfriend, Margaret.  The four were inside Torrey's mobile home when Brian says Torrey handed him a gun.  "I didn't even think, I shot her (Zoie)," he said.  Fullhart says he was "emotionless" after the shooting, although he remembers lying down next to Zoie's body.

He was later arrested and taken to the Cresco police station for questioning.  A surveillance video of the questioning caught him saying, "I shot her in the head."  But on Wednesday in court, Fullhart testified, "I said a lot of things during the interview that were not true."

But under cross examination by Special Prosecutor Scott Brown, Brian stated, "I was upset with what was going on that day."  Then began a series of quick questions by Brown and quick answers by Fullhart: "You told Agent (Scott) Reger you told Zoie to get on her knees?"  "Yes."  "You held the muzzle of the gun in contact with Zoie's head?"  "Yes."  You demonstrated to (agent) Reger how you did this?"  "Yes."  You referred to yourself as 'murderer'?"  "Yes, sir."

But Brian Fullhart added, "Was I in my right frame of minds?  Absolutely not."  Later he would add, "I was not who I normally am when I was not high."  Concluded Fullhart, "It wasn't me."