New Brighton deer feeding feud murder trial moved to 2015

The trial of a New Brighton man accused of shooting and killing his neighbor over a yearslong deer feeding feud has been moved from this fall to February 2015.

Neal C. Zumberge, 57, will be tried Feb. 2 on charges of second-degree murder with intent and attempted second-degree murder for allegedly firing a 12-gauge, semiautomatic shotgun at his New Brighton neighbors across the street. The trial, originally scheduled to start Nov. 10, could last three weeks.

Todd G. Stevens, 46, was killed, and his girlfriend, Jennifer Damerow-Cleven, 48, suffered noncritical gunshot wounds in the May 5 shooting.

Zumberge's attorney, William Orth, said Tuesday that the trial had to be moved so that attorney Gary Wolf would be available to aid in Zumberge's defense.

Wolf represented Zumberge's wife, Paula Zumberge, at a bench trial this summer on allegations that she lured Stevens and Damerow-Cleven out of their home so her husband could shoot them.

Paula Zumberge, 50, was acquitted of aiding and abetting second-degree murder, aiding and abetting attempted second-degree murder and two counts of aiding and abetting second-degree assault.

Authorities believe that Neal Zumberge was upset with Stevens' habit of feeding deer in his yard. The Zumberge family apparently believed that Neal Zumberge and the family dog contracted Lyme disease from a deer tick.

Orth said Tuesday that he advised Wolf's defense and that Wolf would be advising in Neal Zumberge's trial.

Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Anna Christie said that the prosecution disagreed with continuing the trial to 2015, but would not formally object.

Orth has previously filed notice that he would seek to introduce character evidence about Stevens and Neal Zumberge at trial, and that his client would claim self-defense.

CHAO XIONG