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A daughter is speaking out on behalf of her mother, a Logan woman who is accused of murder. The murder victim is the daughter's father.
This is a difficult case for the family because the suspect and victim were married. Their daughter wouldn't talk about what led to the crime, but she says it wasn't cold-blooded murder.
"I was just in complete shock. This was very unexpected," the daughter said.
Her father, James Harper, was murdered, and her mother, Bonnie Harper, is in jail for the crime.
The daughter, who asked us not to identify her, says her mother is not a murderer. "This was just a horrible accident is what I believe. I believe this was not intentional," she said.
On Thursday, officers were on their way to the couple's house on a domestic violence call. When they arrived, James had been stabbed in the back. Bonnie was hiding outside the house. She's been charged with domestic violence, murder and intoxication.
The couple's daughter says Bonnie doesn't remember anything from that night. In court today, prosecutors told the judge Bonnie was on suicide watch.
"She's devastated that her husband is dead and she did it," the daughter said.
Court records show that in March, Bonnie filed a protective order against her husband, who's a registered sex offender. She described physical abuse.
She wrote: "James has punched me in the back and broke my rib. He has pushed me many times, and slapped me. He has also choked me before. He has kicked me. He has pulled my hair, jerked me and shook me violently."
Their daughter won't comment about any physical abuse between her parents, but she says her mother allowed her father to move back into the house.
She thinks her mother may have acted in self defense. "My mom is a very good person, and she loved my dad. My dad loved her."
A judge will determine next week whether there's enough evidence for Bonnie Harper to stand trial. Her daughter would like to see her get counseling, not prison time.
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
