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"When is this court going to stop accepting perjurous statements?" Tyerman asked.
Malloy paused for several second before saying, simply, that the court was recessed for lunch and leaving.
Tyerman, representing himself against charges of stalking, going armed with intent and burglary, questioned Jamie Tyerman, whom Tyerman is accused of abusing, on the witness stand. Jamie Tyerman was visibly emotional at times, recounting and defending various allegations of abuse throughout their relationship.
Tyerman dug at state's evidence but tripped on legal procedure fairly regularly. His temper also flared as he argued with Malloy over rulings such as whether or not financial evidence would be allowed to be introduced. After Malloy said it wouldn't, Tyerman asked for a brief recess so he could figure out "whether or not I'm going to file an appeal on your decision."
Dressed in black Tuesday with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, Tyerman tried to elicit information from Jamie, who claimed not to remember specific dates of events relevant to the case. Tyerman snapped, "How is it that you know when the state's asking you questions, but you don't when I do?"
Tyerman also asked Malloy to declare a mistrial during a break in the proceedings after the state was allowed to introduce evidence of prior incidents of domestic assault.
"I have a right to a fair trial, and I'm not getting one," he said.
Other witnesses Tuesday included Beverly Christensen, a receptionist at Jamie's workplace who testified that Brandon called the office pretending to be a Dallas County Sheriff so Jamie would speak to him, and Leticia Williams, a former girlfriend of Tyerman who had a child with him and testified that Tyerman admitted to her that he'd placed a tracking device in Jamie's car so he could monitor her movements.
Tyerman was arrested and held under several charges this summer after a number of alleged stalking incidents and violations of a protective order from Dallas County. At one point, Story County deputies went to the property where Jamie was staying and found Tyerman locked in the bathroom of a camper on the property, asleep. A witness also reported seeing Tyerman on the property with a handgun June 5. Deputies found an empty Beretta handgun case and a box of ammunition in his truck, according to court documents.
Tyerman recently decided he would present his own defense in court with a stand-by attorney for assistance. A similar method was used by Ronald Beaston, who recently stood trial for attempted murder. Beaston was acquitted of all but one charge, which was reduced to a simple misdemeanor. After announcing that he would serve as his own attorney, Tyerman said Beaston's victory in Story County court had been a factor in his decision.
However, after a failed attempt to argue for the admission of evidence, Malloy asked Tyerman again if he'd like to stop representing himself and take stand-by counsel Bradley Bender as his attorney.
"Oh, no, your honor," Tyerman said. "I'm doing just fine, thank you."
Luke Jennett can be reached at (515) 663-6919 or ljennett@amestrib.com.
