Murder suspect admits guilt, apologizes

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - A man acknowledged in court Tuesday he killed a 16-year-old girl but said he didn't intend to and offered an apology to the victim's mother.

Robert Jensen Schwander, charged with murdering Carly Lewis last June, took the stand in his own defense after the prosecution rested its case in Grand Traverse County Circuit Court. Schwander could be convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.

Schwander, the 18-year-old son of a county sheriff's deputy, lived with Lewis' family for a few months after being kicked out of his own home, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. Carly disappeared June 2. Her body was found June 14 in a sand pile at the city's public works complex.

As the defendant began his testimony, attorney Craig Elhart asked if he had anything to say to Susie Lewis, Carly's mother, who was in the courtroom with friends and other family members.

"I'm sorry, Susie," Schwander replied, his voice cracking.

The Record-Eagle reported that Elhart asked Schwander a series of questions about events prior to the slaying, but the trial adjourned for the day before the subject of how Carly died came up. Schwander is scheduled to resume testifying Wednesday.

Prosecutors contend Schwander fatally stabbed Carly with a pair of scissors inside a storage shed he used as a temporary home. The defense contends Schwander accidentally strangled her.

===

A forensic pathologist says stab wounds on a 16-year-old girl's body were made while she was still alive, contradicting a defense attorney's claim that state police made them while searching for her remains.

Dr. Stephen Cohle testified Thursday in the trial of Robert Schwander, who is charged with murdering Carly Lewis of Traverse City. She disappeared June 2. Her body was found in a sand pile at the city's public works complex.

During opening arguments, defense lawyer Craig Elhart said the 18-year-old Schwander strangled Carly but didn't stab her. He said 10 puncture wounds on her body came from state police who used a sharp probe to search the sand pile.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that Cohle said the wounds came from something with the shape of a knife.

===

A lawyer representing the son of a sheriff's deputy has told a Northern Michigan jury on Wednesday that his client strangled a 16-year-old Traverse City girl, but is not responsible for the stab wounds found on her body.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports opening arguments started Wednesday in Robert Schwander's murder trial.

Attorney Craig Elhart says the wounds on Carly Lewis' body were caused by police using metal probes while searching a sand pile for her body.

Assistant Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg said in her opening statements that Carly was stabbed repeatedly with a scissor blade inside a storage hut.

Lewis disappeared June 2. Her body was found June 14.

The 18-year-old Schwander is charged with open murder. Police say he led them to Lewis' body.

------

Information from: Traverse City Record-Eagle.