Deliberation begins in Howard case

Deliberation is under way in the Leron Howard murder trial in Southeast District Court in Jamestown. Howard is charged with murder and criminal conspiracy in the death of Abdi Ali Ahmed on April 30, 2011.

Jury selection in the case began Aug. 14, with testimony beginning on Aug. 15. Closing arguments were heard in the case Tuesday.

Ahmed’s body was found in a road ditch near Spiritwood. An autopsy revealed he died of blunt force trauma to the head and was also stabbed twice in the abdomen.

The jury of eight women and four men will first elect a foreman before considering the charges. If they find Howard not guilty of murder they would then consider the lesser included charge of manslaughter.

Howard admitted to striking Ahmed twice during an altercation during the early morning hours of April 30, 2011. Steve Mottinger, court-appointed defense attorney, asked the jury to convict Howard of manslaughter during closing arguments.

Murder and criminal conspiracy are Class AA felonies punishable by life in prison without parole. Manslaughter is a Class B felony punishable by 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

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