The New Hampshire father accused of beating his 5-year-old daughter to demise and hiding the homicide for greater than two years appeared in courtroom Tuesday with a smile on his face as jury choice was underway for his trial.
Adam Montgomery pleaded not responsible in 2022 to fees he killed his daughter Harmony Montgomery and spent months shifting her physique earlier than disposing of it.
He allegedly pummeled the lady within the head with a closed fist on Dec. 7, 2019, in accordance with New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, “recklessly causing the death of Harmony Montgomery, a person under 13 years of age, under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference in the value of human life.”
Jury choice for Adam Montgomery’s homicide trial started on Tuesday morning, in a Manchester, New Hampshire courtroom.
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Adam Montgomery enters the courtroom for jury choice forward of his homicide trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Montomgery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony. (David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL)
Photos of the courtroom continuing confirmed Montgomery being ushered into the room whereas smiling together with his tongue out.
FOX 25 in Boston reported that Judge Amy Messer requested Montgomery earlier than the jury choice course of if he wished to waive his proper to put on a leg brace and as a substitute be shackled.
“I was surprised this morning that you preferred not to wear the leg brace, and you wanted to wear the leg shackles,” Messer reportedly mentioned to Montgomery.
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Adam Montgomery enters the courtroom for jury choice forward of his homicide trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL)
“That’s correct,” the defendant responded.
“The shackles may be evident to the jurors,” Messer mentioned. “Do you understand that?”
Montgomery responded, “I do.”
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Adam Montgomery stands together with his attorneys Caroline Smith and James Brooks as they await potential jurors to enter the courtroom for jury choice forward of his homicide trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old-daughter, Harmony. (David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL)
The choose and attorneys from either side spent hours going by means of 120 potential jurors with a purpose to chop the quantity all the way down to 27, the station reported. Before opening statements start on Wednesday, that quantity must be minimize down even additional to 12 plus 5 alternates.
Montgomery is combating proof that prosecutors say reveals him shopping for 80 kilos of lime, a diamond-edged blade and an influence grinder at two Home Depot shops a couple of week earlier than he’s accused of renting a U-Haul truck and dumping Harmony’s stays in an unknown location exterior Boston.
The protection wrote in courtroom filings that there isn’t any proof that lime is a singular buy connecting Montgomery to the homicide.
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Adam Montgomery, Harmony’s father, allegedly pummeled the little lady within the head with a closed fist on Dec. 7, 2019. (Manchester Police)
Investigators say the Montgomery household was homeless and dwelling in a automotive on the time of Harmony’s suspected homicide, and after the occasion, Montgomery allegedly stored his daughter’s stays in a cooler and duffle bag. He then transported them between momentary housing places and eventually disposed of her.
Montgomery’s now estranged spouse, Kayla Montgomery, who’s Harmony’s stepmother, informed police her husband believed the lime would assist Harmony’s physique decompose with out being found, prosecutors allege in courtroom paperwork.
In January of final yr, Formella obtained a grand jury indictment on second-degree homicide fees.
According to the legal grievance, Montgomery is suspected of killing the lady with repeated punches to the top.
Kayla Montgomery can be dealing with fees in reference to the lady’s disappearance, together with allegedly mendacity to a grand jury and accumulating welfare funds on the lacking lady’s behalf for months after her demise.
Harmony’s stays haven’t been discovered.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/harmony-montgomery-murder-dad-accused-killing-new-hampshire-girl-smiles-court-jury-selection-begins
