Prosecution Rests In Duram Trial

Jessica Duram testifying in the trial of Glenna Duram

Prosecution Rests In Duram Trial
By Ken DeLaat

Wednesday through Friday saw continuing testimony in the trial of Glenna Duram, accused of killing her husband Martin Duram. Jurors heard from medical personnel, forensic experts, and law enforcement as well as from family members.

During the ambulance ride to the hospital following the incident, EMT and State Police personnel stated Ms. Duram would become agitated whenever touched and said at one point during the transport “Why are you doing this, Marty?”

Thursday, Neurosurgeon Dr. Hayden Boyce spoke to the injuries Glenna Duram presented and was asked by Prosecuting Attorney Ellsworth Stay about the possible effects of the injuries to the brain from the gunshot wounds. Dr Boyce explained that the bullet crossed an area of the brain not vital to life with no major blood vessels involved. Asked by Mr. Stay if this could alter behavior and Dr. Boyce stated it could affect memory motivational drive and speech difficulty.

Mr Stay asked about the prognosis and Dr Boyce reported that the quality of life might be impaired depending on the memory or speech impairments but the injuries would not cause death.

Defense attorney Rick Prysock questioned an earlier statement by Dr Boyce when he replied ‘it’s possible’ to a query from Mr. Stay as to whether a person could walk around after an injury such as the one Ms. Duram had.
“You said someone could walk around?”
“I said it’s possible”
“But you didn’t see Glenna Duram walk around correct?”
“No. I have no way of knowing what she could do afterwards.”

Lieutenant Detective David Johnson spoke of assisting the investigative team in the collection of evidence.
Defense Attorney Mark Miller inquired about the manila envelope that contained letters from  Glenna Duram’ to her two children and ex-husband. Mr. Miller asked Lt. Johnson of the MSP who was called in to help gather evidence whether this envelope was included when material was gathered and Lt. Johnson stated it was not.. The item was apparently found later when Martin Duram’s children began looking through the house the day after evidence gathering had been completed.

There was a great deal of attention given to this envelope. Jessica  Duram daughter of Martin Duram testified she had found the item during their search of the house and shared it with her brothers. Justin Duram, Martin’s son, also reported his sister had found the envelope and that she called the letters inside ‘suicide notes’. The MSP were called and the letters were turned over to them.

Questions were also asked about money found in the home by Martin Duram’s children, an amount of about $5000. Jessica Duram stated the money was used to help pay for Martin Duram’s funeral. Justin Duram also testified that money was found that day.

On Friday the first witness called was Jason Duram who corroborated the money was found and taken from the house. Jason also stated he had visited with his father the previous Saturday and denied feeling any particular concern for the couple at that time.
He, like his siblings, was asked about the relationship between Martin and Glenna and reported they joked around a lot and that their relationship seemed to be ‘pretty good’.

Neighbor Tena Christie testified that she was a close friend to the Durams often seeing them up to five times a week at their house. She was asked if she knew much about their finances and she stated that Marty had once said that Glenna paid the bills.
Mr. Prysock asked if she had told a detective that she could not imagine Glenna doing anything like this and she stated she had.
Mr. Stay asked if she had known what had occurred when she said this and she replied “I wasn’t there.”
Mr. Prysock asked if she still felt that way resulting in an objection from Mr. Stay. After a sidebar Mr. Prysock asked what time she had seen them on the 11th and she stated it was after 4pm. He asked if she had concerns at that time and she said she did not.

Next on the stand were Martin Duram’s father and mother. Charles Duram was shown the handgun recovered  at the house after the incident and stated the gun was his and that he had given it to his son for safekeeping. Mrs. Lillian Duram was asked if she was aware of an impending foreclosure of the house and she said there had been conversations about it with her son and Glenna.

Two witnesses reported serving notice of a sheriff’s sale of the home due to foreclosure that was to be held on May 12th 2015.

The final witness for the prosecution was Jeff Hoffman Detective Trooper Specialist for the MSP. Mr. Hoffman, a computer specialist,testified that the phone belonging to Glenna Duram had been used to access websites related to the Ruger 22 handgun that has been at the center of the investigation as the murder weapon in the early morning hours before the incident occurred.
During cross examination Mr. Miller asked if the witness had any knowledge of what was contained on the web pages found on the phone. Mr. Hoffman answered that he did not.
Mr. Miller also stated that with no DNA or fingerprints, “You don’t know if it was Glenna Duram that was using the phone.” and the witness agreed that this was true.

The focus of the proceedings this week seemed to be on the envelope containing three letters written by Glenna Duram, the money recovered by the three Duram siblings and the financial situation of Martin and Glenna Duram. Some witnesses spoke of believing  there were money issues while  others stated they had no knowledge of such problems. All seemed to agree that the Durams often were sarcastic with each other using humor that spoke to getting rid of each other. None who testified reported taking the statements seriously.
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Financial problems involving the possible loss of their house was brought up many times but few who knew the Durams seemed to have a clear awareness of the nature or extent of their personal financial difficulties.

The trial resumes Monday when the defense team begins calling their witnesses.

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