Murder trial begins for Anoka County father accused of killing his son and hiding him in trash

A Columbia Heights man who’s defending himself against charges that he murdered his 16-year-old son last year and dumped him in the trash started his trial very quietly.

Jordan Collins Sr. had little to say on the first day of his murder trial, keeping his head down and writing notes.  He did finally cross-examine one of the prosecution’s witnesses, asking just a handful of questions, most of which prosecutors had already asked.

“He threw his son away,” Andrew Loose with the Anoka County Attorney’s office told jurors Friday morning.

He said that over the next few weeks the prosecution will present evidence showing how Collins killed his son, ...