Greta Lindecrantz, 67, has been in jail for close to two weeks after she refused to take the stand claiming it would conflict with her Mennonite beliefs. During the court session, Lindecrantz told the District Judge, Michelle Amico, that testifying makes her feel like she has to choose between her and God. The Judge found her in contempt and said Lindecrantz would remain behind bars until she answered to the subpoena.

Greta chose to stick to her faith

Lindecrantz is a Mennonite private eye who belongs to a Protestant church that is opposed to any violence, including war and executions.

She works as a private investigator for law firms that defend people on death row. Robert Ray is one of her clients facing the death penalty. Ray was convicted of planning the murder of a witness. He is appealing because he believes his defense team, including the private investigator, did a poor job representing him in court. When the prosecutors approached Lindecrantz, she refused to testify saying she will not be an accessory to a process aimed at taking her client's life.

Notice of intent to testify

After her arrest, her attorney, Mari Newman, tried to spring her out by asking the Colorado Court of Appeals to release her since locking her up interferes with her other cases. The court declined Newman's request.

However, on Saturday, Newman filed a Notice of Intent to Testify. In the notice, Newman explains that his client had changed her mind after Ray's lawyer advised her to testify. According to Ray's attorney, her objection to testifying would only hurt Ray's chance of obtaining a legal remedy for his life. Also, in the notice, Newman explains how her 12 days in jail have adversely affected her other clients who all are facing death row.

The prosecutor in Ray’s case was relieved that she changed her mind but was unimpressed by her delayed decision. In an interview with NBC News, the District Attorney, George Brauchler said her decision to testify is appreciated, but she is only doing "what anyone who has ever received a subpoena is expected to do." Now that Lindecrantz has agreed to testify, it remains unclear whether her testimony will help save Ray's life.

Nonetheless, her beliefs remain intact; in the Notice of Intent filed on Saturday, Newman says his client's religious objections haven't changed, but since Ray's counsel believes her unwillingness to testify may put his life at risk, she will now agree to testify.
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