Murder trial witnesses identify discarded clothing as belonging to Cave, Howard

The third day of prosecution testimony in the murder trial of Janelle Cave, 22, Jamestown, focused on evidence including discarded clothes and a stand for a large knife or sword.

The case is being heard in Southeast District Court with Judge Thomas E. Merrick presiding.

Cave is accused of murder and criminal conspiracy in the April 30, 2011, death of Abdi Ali Ahmed, 18, Jamestown. Facing the same charges is Leron Lee Howard, 34, Jamestown, who will stand trial on Aug. 7. The charges are Class AA felonies and are punishable by up to life in prison without parole.

Special Agent Arnie Rummel, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, continued the testimony he began Thursday. He testified about a knife and stand found in the trailer home Cave and Howard shared. He also testified that a similar stand for a larger knife or sword had been found with some discarded clothes in a Dumpster at an apartment building Howard visited in the hours after the alleged crime.

Other witnesses included:

* Jennifer Nolden, a resident of one of the apartments next to the Dumpster. She said the clothes and shoes taken from the trash container belonged to Howard.

* Corey Ashland, a resident in the same apartment building, who said that he saw Howard throwing items in the Dumpster on the afternoon of April 30.

* Alexa Stoller, Cave’s and Howard’s roommate, who testified that the larger pants found in the Dumpster at the apartment building belonged to Howard and that smaller socks and smaller sweatpants found in the Dumpster belonged to Cave.

Testimony will continue through the afternoon before the court adjourns for the weekend. The case is scheduled to go to the jury late next week.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

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