COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – The trial of the Former Idaho State Police Trooper Daniel Howard, who stands accused of killing his wife, concluded its second week of testimony Thursday.
The defense called their first witness on Wednesday. For close to two weeks, the prosecutors called experts and witnesses who shared testimony that they believed that Kendy Howard was murdered.
Kendy Howard was found dead in her bathtub in the couple’s home in 2021. The defense has maintained it was a suicide, while prosecutors have argued Daniel Howard staged her death to look like a suicide.
To convince the jury that Kendy died by suicide, they called retired Forensic Pathologist Dr. John Howard to the stand. Dr. Howard told the courtroom Thursday that the evidence he reviewed showed Kendy died of a gunshot wound.
Dr. Howard testified that there was visible soot on Kendy’s body. Dr. Howard told the court that throughout his career, he had examined several gunshot wounds to the mouth, and the damage done to Kendy’s tongue, spinal cord, and the pooling of her blood matched his conclusions.
Howard’s Defense attorney, Jason Johnson, asked Dr. Howard, “The cause of death is a gunshot wound?”
Dr. Howard responded affirmatively.
“That’s my opinion,” Dr. Howard said.
The prosecution aimed to poke holes in Dr. Howard’s testimony. They argued the gunshot wound happened after Kendy’s death, and there were factors at play when her pooled blood was examined that needed to be considered.
Prosecuting attorney Julia Schoffstall asked Dr. Howard, “Isn’t it common during transport, for bodies that may have large injuries to leak blood?”
“Yes,” Dr. Howard said.
“Wouldn’t it be common for bodies that have been submerged in water to have some moisture to it,” Schoffstall said.
“That would be expected, yes,” Dr. Howard answered.
“So would it be fair to say that some of that blood that is seen in the body bag could have leaked from the large hole in her mouth?” Schoffstall said.
“Yes, that would be the source of the blood,” Howard said.
The court will reconvene on Monday. If convicted, Howard faces life in prison.
