Jury hears opening arguments, testimony in first day of murder trial

On Dec. 12, 2011, Chief Deputy Fred Wiedeburg of the Cheyenne County Sheriff's office kicked in the door of a Sioux Meadows apartment and found the body of April Smith.

Tuesday in Cheyenne County District Court a jury of four men and eight women heard opening arguments during the first day of the State of Nebraska vs. Craig Johnson.

Johnson faces charges of first-degree murder a class IA felony, use of a weapon to commit a felony, a class II felony, possession of a deadly weapon by a felon, a class III felony and habitual criminality in connection with the Dec. 11, 2011 death of the 42-year-ol...