Trial begins for Yuma man accused of murder

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The trial of a Yuma man accused of murder began this week.

40-year-old Nicholas Harder is charged in the death of 57-year-old Anthony Jordinelli in May 2023. He faces one count of premeditated first-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault.

Attorneys for both sides delivered opening statements, presenting different accounts of what happened.

“He didn't murder Anthony Jordinelli… he did try to cover it up, but not because he’d done something wrong, but because he was concerned about his job and he didn't know what else to do…” the defense said.

“The murder of Anthony Jordinelli is not an accident. It is not the result of a sudden fit of rage. Certainly not self defense,” prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also showed images from the crime scene to the jury.

“Bottles of bleach, bloody napkins, towels, twine, blood covering the floor and spatter on the walls. This is the master bedroom,” a prosecutor said.

Prosecutors said that is what the room looked like after the defendant stopped trying to cover up the crime and fled the scene.

The defense argued the incident was an act of self-defense.

“He was defending himself against someone who, again, had this acute methamphetamine intoxication, had this extreme desire of violent behavior… had this extra strength that frequently happens with people with this type of intoxication,” the defense said.

The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday and is expected to last about three weeks.