Charge: Absent 'any mercy,' man fatally chokes girlfriend's brother in New Brighton

Lacking "any mercy," a 54-year-old man choked the life out of his girlfriend's brother in her New Brighton home, not stopping until police arrived at the scene, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.

Steven M. Abrams was charged in Ramsey County District Court with second-degree murder in the death Friday of his 58-year-old victim, whom authorities have yet to identify.

Abrams remains jailed in lieu of $700,000 bail ahead of a May 15 court appearance.

According to the complaint:

The woman told police that Abrams was her domestic partner and she had kicked him out of her home in the 1400 block of 20th Avenue NW. earlier that day.

Abrams returned that night, her brother let him in and Abrams assaulted the woman. The brother intervened and called 911.

Abrams threw the man around the apartment and got on top of him on the floor, choking him with both hands as he "bounced up and down on top of [the victim's] chest with his knees."

It wasn't until officers were at the door that Abrams, who appeared intoxicated, backed off.

Under questioning by police, Abrams said he and the woman had been a couple for 20 years. He said the brother "put his hands on" Abrams at some point.

Abrams acknowledged that his victim might have been pleading for the attack to stop, "but right then, I didn't have any mercy," the charging document quoted Abrams as telling police.

Told that the man had died, Abrams said, "OK, he was dying anyway."

Abrams has a long and sometimes violent criminal history in Minnesota. He's been convicted of assault, theft, drunken driving and disorderly conduct.