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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — An Orem man accused of killing his wife took the witness stand this week during his trial to persuade jurors he's not guilty.
Conrad Truman, 32, said Thursday he gave police conflicting accounts about his wife's 2012 death because he was trying to find an "analytical way" to explain what happened, the Daily Herald of Provo reports (http://bit.ly/1wer674 ). At different points in the aftermath of the shooting, he told investigators that an intruder was in the home; that somebody shot her through a window; or that she killed herself, prosecutors say.
At the start of his testimony, defense attorney Jim Park asked Truman, "Did you shoot your wife?"
"No," Truman said.
Truman said he and his wife, Heidy Truman, were drinking alcohol and watching the TV show, "Dexter" when they heard a voice outside the night of Sept. 30, 2012. Truman says he went outside with his dog and a gun and saw a man acting erratically.
He came back inside, put his gun away, and began talking about how they needed to get a new, braver dog. He said that seemed to irritate his wife a bit, but he said they weren't arguing, "just husband and wife teasing a little bit."
She went to take a shower and soon after he heard a pop from the bathroom, he said. He found her with blood coming out of her head from a gunshot wound.
He said on the witness stand he was confused, trying to figure out if she shot herself or was shot by an intruder. He apologized for threatening emergency responders who arrived, explaining that his behavior was due to his own confusion and panic.
"I didn't know what was going on (with) the dogs barking, the blood (and) all the people in the house," he said. "I was just reaching out for help the best way I could at that particular scenario."
During cross examination, prosecutor Craig Johnson asked if Truman called police about the man he saw outside acting erratically. Truman said he didn't.
Prosecutors say Truman killed his wife for nearly $1 million of insurance money. Truman's attorney says she likely shot herself accidently after grabbing her gun while still wet.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday, with the jury expected to begin deliberations that same day.
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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldextra.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I didn't know what was going on (with) the dogs barking, the blood (and) all the people in the house. I was just reaching out for help the best way I could at that particular scenario.
–Conrad Truman
He said on the witness stand he was confused, trying to figure out if she shot herself or was shot by an intruder. He apologized for threatening emergency responders who arrived, explaining that his behavior was due to his own confusion and panic.
"I didn't know what was going on (with) the dogs barking, the blood (and) all the people in the house," he said. "I was just reaching out for help the best way I could at that particular scenario."
During cross examination, prosecutor Craig Johnson asked if Truman called police about the man he saw outside acting erratically. Truman said he didn't.
Prosecutors say Truman killed his wife for nearly $1 million of insurance money. Truman's attorney says she likely shot herself accidently after grabbing her gun while still wet.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday, with the jury expected to begin deliberations that same day.
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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldextra.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
