Day 2: Trial of Maxwell Anderson underway, first witnesses take the stand

Anderson, 34, faces four felony charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, in connection with the 2024 death of Sade Robinson.

The morning started with the state and defense delivering their opening statements. 

The state pointed to what they call an overwhelming amount of evidence in this case - including videos and phone tracking data they say will prove Maxwell Anderson killed Sade Robinson. 

"The evidence in this case is going to show Maxwell Anderson murdered Sade Robinson the night of April 1 into April 2. He then brutally cut her apart, disposed of her body parts, and burned her car," said Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan, Milwaukee County.

The defense repeatedly discussed with the jury the concept of "reasonable doubt."

"They didn't find a murder weapon," said Defense Attorney Anthony Cotton. "What weapon was used to kill Sade? They didn't find any of Sade's blood, with any of the samples they took throughout that entire house. Every comforter, bedsheet, tabletop, wall, none of it has Sade's DNA."

The state's witness testimony began with evidence. For the first time, jurors saw some of the graphic images that will be presented throughout this case. 

Four witnesses spoke about Sade Robinson's severed leg. Law enforcement agents who were dispatched to the beach that day said the two men who found the leg were in a frantic state because of what they'd seen. 

Body camera video showed where the leg was found, 10-15 ft. up an embankment and away from water.

A detective said it looked to her like a clean and intentional cut. 

Anderson watched from the defense table and showed no visible reaction. But there were gasps and sniffles in the gallery. Some students there to observe the case could not look at the photos. 

In the afternoon, a sheriff's deputy testified for more than an hour about security video showing that area. 

A gate leading to a private access drive was rammed the night Sade was killed. The detective said the security videos show a car in that area at the time. The drive leads down to a water pump house near the beach. 

The detective noticed something on that video. 

"The silhouette is now visible in between the trees," Detective Nathan Spittlemeister said. "And now the silhouette appears to be hunched over. There are rocks and other things to climb over in that area. The silhouette then moves down and disappears from camera."

Court proceedings begin daily between 8:30 and 9 a.m. at the Milwaukee County courthouse complex.

CBS 58 has live coverage from the trial as well as a livestream in its entirety on our website, Facebook, and YouTube pages.

Content warning: Graphic material may be shown in trial. Viewer discretion is advised.