@TimCalWMUR
Kayla Montgomery is back on the stand this AM to continue cross-examination. She is testifying in the trial of her estranged husband,
#AdamMontgomery, who is accused of killing his daughter
#AdamMontgomery is not in court again for today's testimony.
The defense is highlighting discrepancies between what Kayla told prosecutors on the stand about the day Harmony died and what she told law enforcement when their investigation was going on.
Last week, Kayla testified that Adam hit Harmony when he returned to the family's car from the methadone clinic and noticed Harmony had a bathroom accident. Today, she tells the defense that Harmony also had an accident around 2-3 that morning. Says Adam hit Harmony 10-15 times.
Judge has ordered a mid-morning break. Court will resume in 15 minutes.
The defense is going over every detail of Kayla's testimony-big and small. Including Kayla telling prosecutors that she fed the children as the family left the Burger King parking lot. Defense notes she told police she fed the children at the Colonial Village apts.
Defense also asks Kayla what her other two children were doing while Adam was hitting Harmony. She says one of her sons was screaming. Defense notes Kayla originally told police the children were sleeping at the time.
With Kayla being the state's star witness, this is the defense's chance to make a dent in the prosecution's case by highlighting even the smallest discrepancy in her story.
Adam's defense attorney has thrown several curveball questions at Kayla, trying to get her to admit that Harmony was already dead before the time she claims Adam killed her. Kayla appears confused each time.
The jury is now out on lunch. Testimony will resume in one hour.
We're back from lunch. Defense is now questioning about the family's time at their Union St. apartment--primarily the day Adam allegedly reduced Harmony's body.
Defense notes Kayla originally told police she did not help Adam with Harmony's body, but later admitted that she cut Harmony's sweatshirt off and helped close a bag that her remains were put in.
The defense just asked Kayla about
#AdamMontgomery wanting to commit suicide. Kayla says she told Adam that she needed him and their kids needed him. The defense is done with questioning. Prosecutors now have a chance for follow-up questions during redirect.
Prosecutors are circling back to Adam's abuse of Kayla. She reiterates that the abuse was physical and emotional. Says Adam accused her of cheating on him, working with cops.
Prosecutors just asked Kayla if she still loves
#AdamMontgomery. She says she still cares about him. "He was my best friend. It's been hard to let go." Kayla says as she wipes away tears.
Prosecutor: Did you beat Harmony to death? Kayla: No.
Kayla is emotional again while telling jurors she no longer has rights to her children. She can no longer speak to them. She also tells the jurors she was not given full immunity and is currently living at the NH prison for women.
Prosecutor: Can you remind these jurors who killed Harmony?Kayla: Adam Montgomery. State has finished with redirect. Defense is allowed to ask follow up questions.
Defense asks Kayla how she knew information about opening statements. She says my lawyer. Defense tries to clarify when judge called attys. up to the bench. We are now in a 15-minute break.
Court is back in session, but the judge just asked Kayla Montgomery's attorney to approach the bench. He was setting in the gallery during her testimony. Prosecution and defense are also there.
Sidebar is still going on at the bench w/Kayla's attorney, prosecutors and the defense. They've been up there for quite some time. Kayla has just entered the courtroom.
Court is back in session. No mention of what happened at the bench. Defense is continuing its questioning of Kayla about what was said in opening statements by Adam's attorneys.
Defense asked Kayla if she was aware that Adam was conceding to abuse of a corpse charge and falsifying evidence charge. Kayla says she learned this because her atty. spoke to her about it the morning of her testimony.
After another nearly six-hour day of testimony, Kayla Montgomery's time on the stand comes to an end. The state has called its next witness, Courtney Garcia. She says
#AdamMontgomery is a childhood friend of her husband.
Garcia says she saw Adam on Thanksgiving in 2019. She says her husband gave him gas money and offered to give him a place to stay.
Garcia says Adam was for staying with them, but he and Kayla decided not to spend the night. She says Adam and Kayla's two sons and Harmony were in the back seat of the car. Garcia offered the kids food.
Garcia says between December 2019-January 2020 she saw the family multiple times. She says Adam told her that Harmony was back living with her mother because she kept having accidents in the car.
Defense asks a brief question on cross-examination to clarify that Adam was willing to stay with Garcia, but Kayla was against it. Garcia is dismissed.
We're now hearing from Kimberly Frain. She worked with Adam and Kayla at a Dunkin Donuts in Manchester. She says she babysat
#HarmonyMontgomery and her two brothers in the summer of 2019.
Frain says in the winter of 2019 she delivered jumper cables to the Montgomerys. She says she did not see Harmony with them.
Brief cross-examination of Frain by the defense to clarify what kind of car the Montgomerys were living in. Frain says she believes blue Audi. Frain is dismissed as a witness. Both sides are now at the bench with the judge.
Testimony is done for today. Judge says she is aware of tomorrow's snowstorm but says the trial will continue. If that changes, jurors will be notified overnight. Otherwise, they will report to court at 8:45.