Shawna Nelson threatened or fought with at least four other women before allegedly gunning down the wife of her former police officer lover, according to court filings made public Tuesday.

Motions filed by Nelson's defense attorneys revealed allegations of even more extramarital affairs, threats and violence in an already messy love triangle that ended in the Jan. 23 death of Heather Garraus, 37.

Nelson's anger was directed toward women who were either involved with her husband or who were married to men she was having affairs with.

The documents also refer to allegations that she wanted to poison her husband.

Defense attorneys are trying to get testimony regarding Nelson's behavior excluded from her trial. She faces first-degree murder charges in Garraus' death.

Nelson had an on- again, off-again extramarital affair with Garraus' husband, former Greeley police officer Ignacio Garraus.

Witnesses have said that prior to the shooting, Shawna Nelson made angry threats toward two women allegedly involved with her husband, former Weld County sheriff's deputy Ken Nelson, even threatening to kill one woman's dogs.

There are also allegations that Shawna Nelson fought with a third woman who left a party for a while with Ken Nelson.

One of these women may be the lawyer from the Weld prosecutor's office accused of having an affair with Ken Nelson. Because of that, the Larimer County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.

Court documents say "various witnesses have made allegations that Ms. Nelson was also engaged in other affairs, sexual relationships or sexual activity with other law enforcement officers or other individuals."

One of these witnesses read a 2003 journal entry in which Nelson expressed "desire to kill the wife of a Weld County sheriff's deputy with whom Ms. Nelson was alleged to have had an affair."

Another witness reported a conversation in which Nelson said she would like to "hid (sic) in the bushes outside the deputy's home and shoot the wife when she came outside," a statement that Nelson immediately retracted. Nelson made similar statements about the wife of a Greeley police officer, the witness said.

This same witness alleged that Nelson "threatened to get rid of Heather Garraus," and that she would picture Heather Garraus' face on the target at a shooting range.

craigk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5618