Columbus murder trial set to start

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October 23, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Fri Oct 23, 2009, 09:47 PM CDT

By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

COLUMBUS, Kan. — Robert Jarman’s trial in the 2007 shooting death of his wife, Suzanne, is expected to begin Monday in Cherokee County District Court.

Jarman, 46, of Columbus, is charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 22, 2007, incident. Suzanne Jarman, 42, died in a bedroom at Jarman’s house at 1105 W. Country Road, just beyond the Columbus city limits.

The jury was selected Friday, and attorneys are expected to begin with opening remarks Monday morning. The case is being prosecuted by Barry Disney, assistant Kansas attorney general. Sam Marsh is representing Jarman.

Jarman’s 911 call was played during his preliminary hearing last year. In the recording, a nearly hysterical Jarman was heard telling the dispatcher that a shotgun discharged when he handed it to his wife as they were cleaning out a gun safe.

Forensic pathologist Erik Mitchell testified last year that Suzane Jarman died of injuries from a shotgun wound to her head. He said the entry point was at the back of her head, near the base of her skull. He said that based on the pattern of blood and tissue on her body, clothes, arms and hands, Suzanne Jarman was bending forward at her waist with arms extended, facing away from the shotgun when she was shot.

There was no specific testimony during the preliminary hearing about a possible motive.

Josh Waugh, who was dating the Jarmans’ daughter at the time, said he saw the two in the bedroom, removing guns from a gun safe. He said Suzanne Jarman told him they were looking for some money they had misplaced.

Prospective jurors on Friday were asked about their knowledge of shotguns, including if any had fired a pump shotgun. Several, including a gun shop owner, had.

Juror question

Also among questions asked to prospective jurors was if they knew anyone who must have oxygen from a tank. Jarman uses supplemental oxygen.

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Columbus murder trial set to start

Six judges in a county in Kansas are using iPads to sign off on search warrants so law enforcement can more quickly draw blood from suspected drunken drivers. Do you think more counties should use this technology?

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