BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Lauren Elkins became annoyed April 1, 2009, at 8:15 p.m. when she heard an intoxicated Stephen Nodine banging on Angel Down’s condo, “yelling a stream of cuss words” and ordering her to open the door.

Elkins and Downs lived in Fairhope at the time in separate condos in one building and had become friends, Elkins testified Wednesday.

“I saw Nodine banging on windows and doors,” Elkins said. “He was yelling, ‘Get out here. I want to talk to you now.’”

Nodine later knocked on Elkins door and said he was worried about Downs.

“He smelled of alcohol, he was unsteady and used the side of the building to prop himself up,” she said.

Elkins called Downs, who said she was OK, and that “he’s just drunk. Angel said to ignore him because he will pass out.” She also told Elkins not to call the police.

Nodine went to the rear of the building and the banging and yelling continued an hour or more, the state witness said.

The next morning Elkins said she saw Nodine asleep in his truck.

In opening statements Tuesday, defense attorney Dennis Knizley said Nodine and Downs had a stormy relationship, but loved each other and were together whenever possible during their six year affair. Nodine, a former Mobile County Commissioner, has a wife and son. Downs was his girlfriend.

He is charged with murder, stalking and ethics violations in the May 9, 2010, death of Downs, who died from a single gunshot wound to the head in the driveway of her Gulf Shores condo.

In other testimony Wednesday, Gulf Shores paramedic-firefighter Blake Ables was one of the first responders at the scene and said he saw no one at the scene but Gulf Shores police.

“When I arrived, I noticed her hair arranged in a peculiar way, a fan pattern,” Ables said. “I ventilated her without having to move her head.”

Ables said he had no expertise in crime scene investigation, and squatted instead of getting on his knees to prevent touching the hair. He said he saw no one touch her hair.

Downs had a weak pulse when paramedics arrived and was treated for several minutes before rescue efforts ceased.

Gulf Shores police arrived with paramedics, secured the scene and began documenting evidence with a “body cam,” a small video recorder clipped to a uniform shirt.

According to testimony Wednesday, one female neighbor was holding Downs’ hand, while another was near her head and talking to her.

Police asked the neighbors to leave the crime police. The gun was secured and police found one spent bullet about 15 feet to her right near a shrub. Brain and skull matter were less than six feet from the body.

Authorities also testified no one touched her hair or legs, but Downs’ had an IV in her left arm and her shirt was cut away to attach eight electrodes to monitor vital signs.

In opening statements Tuesday, Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb told jurors that Downs could not have committed suicide due to her body position and the location of blood on her chest and legs. She also said evidence indicates that Downs’ hair was arranged after her death and that the suicide was staged.

Knizley countered that Nodine could not have been at the crime scene at the time of the shot, based on time references offered by neighbors.

He said testimony will show Nodine was observed leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. He said it was “impossible” for Nodine to fire the weapon and drive to the location of the sighting based on witness testimony.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.