A Manhattan man is on trial this week for the September 2021 death of his wife.
The trial got underway in Riley County District Court Monday afternoon for 28-year-old Kamahl Bobian, who is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated burglary and two counts of violating a protective order.
Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson told jurors in his opening statement that evidence will show that Bobian stabbed 27-year-old Shanell Bobian at least seven times in the neck, then dragged her body into his van, before dumping it in the woods near the Timber Creek area of Pottawatomie County, then fled to Topeka, where he later crashed his vehicle and was subsequently arrested. Wilkerson says Kamahl has admitted to police that he murdered Shanell, but only has admitted to stabbing her twice. The stabbing occurred in the early morning hours of September 25, 2021 in the 400 block of South 12th Street in Manhattan.
Jurors heard testimony from the responding RCPD personnel, including Patrol Officer Brandon Gadia and Sgt. Dustin Weisbrod. RCPD Communications Manager Tyler Siefkes also testified before jurors were played the 911 call from Kamahl’s father that morning, who can be heard in the call telling dispatchers that Kamahl admitted to him of killing Shanell and taking their children to a grandmother’s home on Buttonwood Drive in the Northview area. The children were later located by RCPD unharmed.
Jurors were also shown body camera footage of the crime scene at Shanell’s home, showing blood throughout the home and on the front porch.
The defense did not present an opening statement Monday, opting to do that later this week. The state plans to present 25 witnesses, with Wilkerson noting the state intends to get through its list by Thursday morning.
The trial, which is scheduled for five days, continues through Friday in Judge Kendra Lewison’s courtroom.
