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Paul Varner dies in Wishek
Bismarck man charged with murder in Wishek death Paul Varner was pronounced dead at the Wishek Hospital after an early morning altercation at his home. Nicholas Caspers was arrested after helping get Varner into the ambulance. Caspers was interviewed by law enforcement later and said he hit Varner in the face twice in self defense. -
Caspers appears in court
Bismarck man charged with murder in Wishek death Nicholas Caspers made his first court appearance on a Class AA felony murder charge. The appearance was in Burleigh County, where Caspers was being held. His bond was set at $75,000 cash or surety. His attorney at that time, Donavin Grenz, told a judge Caspers had acted in self defense. -
Varner's family, friends reminisce about him
Murder victim remembered as friendly and larger than life Paul Varner's family and friends told the Tribune Varner had overcome leukemia in the year prior to his death. They said he was friendly to everyone and "larger than life." -
Judge sends murder charge to trial
Bismarck man pleads not guilty in Wishek death Nicholas Caspers pleaded not guilty to murder after South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell ruled there was enough probable cause to advance the case to trial during a preliminary hearing at the McIntosh County Courthouse in Ashley. -
Defense plans to go to trial on charge
McIntosh County murder case moving to trial Nicholas Caspers' attorney indicated he will go to trial on the murder charge during a dispositional conference held at the Burleigh County Courthouse. Peter Wold, a Minneapolis attorney who is one of three attorneys defending Caspers, also brought up the possibility of moving the trial venue out of McIntosh County. -
Defense files motions for suppression, change of venue
Caspers’ attorneys say he was too tired, drunk for questioning in Varner’s murder Nicholas Caspers' attorneys filed a suppression motion, saying information garnered by investigators from an interview with Caspers after Paul Varner's death should not be admissable as he was too drunk, traumatized and tired to be questioned. They also asked that the trial be moved. -
Prosecutors agree to move trial, defense drops suppression motion
Caspers murder trial won't be held in McIntosh County Prosecutors agreed to move the murder trial out of McIntosh County after seeing the results of preliminary jury surveys. Defense attorneys dropped their earlier suppression motion. -
Murder trial moved to Burleigh County Courthouse
McIntosh County murder trial moved to Burleigh County South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell signed an order moving the trial to Burleigh County. -
Caspers turns himself in for violation
Caspers back in jail after officers saw him drinking Nicholas Caspers turned himself in to the Burleigh County Detention Center after undercover officers with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation see him drinking at a Mandan bar where he allegedly likes to sing karaoke. He was prohibited from drinking by a bond order in the murder case. -
Attorneys haggle over trial details
Attorneys work out trial details in McIntosh County murder case Prosecutors and defense attorneys discuss details for trial, including jury instructions and what evidence will be admitted.
Judge Bruce Haskell rules Caspers will continue to be held in jail pending trial for violating a bond condition prohibiting drinking. -
Caspers slated to change his plea
Caspers to plead guilty to murder in Varner's death
McIntosh County State's Attorney Terry Elhard says Nicholas Caspers will change his plea to guilty on a charge of Class A felony murder in the death of Paul Varner at 11 a.m.
