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Son of John Wall testifies in murder trial, describes mother’s mood on night before her death

Posted at 6:57 PM, Mar 04, 2015
and last updated 2015-03-05 00:01:02-05

SALT LAKE CITY - In day 9 of the John Wall trial, Wall and Uta von Schwedler's son Pelle Wall took the stand. Pelle outlined what he said happened shortly before and immediately following his mother's death.

Under direct examination, Pelle Wall told the jury he doesn't remember anything unusual about his mother's mood on September 26, 2011 - the night before she died.

Anna Rossi, prosecuting attorney: "Did you notice anything unusual about your mom that night?"
Pelle Wall: "No."
Anna Rossi: "Was she angry about anything?"
Pelle Wall: "No."
Anna Rossi: "Was she depressed about anything?"
Pelle Wall: "No."
Anna Rossi: "Up until that point, had you ever seen her depressed about anything?"
Pelle Wall: "No."
Anna Rossi: "Was she overly emotional about anything?"
Pelle Wall: "No."
Anna Rossi: "Did she seem to have good energy level?"
Pelle Wall: "Yes."

The night before she died, Pelle said his father refused to talk to his mother when he came to pick up the children from her home.

Pelle Wall: "He didn't look at her, he looked straight ahead and rolled up the window and pulled out."
Anna Rossi: "And you guys left?"
Pelle Wall: "Yes."
Anna Rossi: "And what was your dad's demeanor?"
Pelle Wall: "I think quiet, withdrawn, maybe a little frustrated? I can't recall."

The morning after, Uta von Schwedler was found dead and police brought John Wall in for questioning. Pelle said the way his father broke the news to him that his mother had died was odd.

Pelle Wall: "And my dad said, 'Uta's dead and they think I did it.'"
Anna Rossi: "And then what did he do?"
Pelle Wall: "Well I asked, you know, 'What happened? How did she die? Was she hit by a car? Was she biking?' I was trying to figure out what had happened. And he said, 'Oh I was interrogated by police last night. They think a fingernail did this to my eye.'"

Pelle said he decided to move out of his father's home when John Wall began questioning him about what he knew about his mother's death in an "aggressive" and "intimidating" manner.

"So, it looked like he had a little stack of papers and was asking me whether I wanted to see the medical examiner's report, I think it was. And I told him 'no, that's not how I want to remember my mom,'" Pelle said.

Pelle was one of his father's first accusers, and he actively worked to keep his mom's case open before his dad's arrest in 2013.

Pelle is the second child to testify in this case. His sister, Malkie Wall, testified last week. The trial is supposed to last another week. If convicted, John Wall could spend the rest of his life in prison.