Witness to Cedar Rapids murder put under court supervision

A material witness in the beating death of a Wellington Heights Neighborhood man was put under supervision today to ensure he will testify at the trial set for Aug. 17.

Police and an investigator had been looking for Terry Eschen for several months, Assistant Linn County Attorney Jason Besler said. Shortly after Jerry Hurt was beaten to death and Jason

Blackcloud was charged with first-degree murder, Eschen told an investigator he wouldn't show up for court. Eschen then left the state and went to Tennessee.

Besler asked the judge for a bond on Eschen to make sure he shows up for trial.

Eschen told the court he thought he would get beaten up if he testified but now he's willing. He claimed he didn't go to Tennessee to avoid police and the county attorney.

He also claimed he had been in town for four months, but Besler said the county attorney's investigator and police had been actively looking for him. Eschen was arrested on Tuesday.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Robert Sosalla didn't order a bond but did put him under supervision, which would require him to regularly report to the Department of Corrections.

Besler then gave Eschen a subpoena during the hearing to appear for a deposition.

Blackcloud, 34, of Cedar Rapids, is accused of beating to death Hurt, 46, of Cedar Rapids, almost a year ago on Aug. 26, 2008.

Police said Blackcloud, riding his bicycle, came up to Hurt, who was walking along 14th Street SE, and struck him in the head with a piece of pipe he picked up off the street. At the time, police said they believed the assault was the result of an ongoing dispute between the two men.

Blackcloud was arrested for Hurt's death after reluctant witnesses in the Wellington Heights Neighborhood came forward, police said.