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Jury continues deliberations in case of Utah man accused of murdering wife

Posted at 10:38 PM, Oct 21, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-22 09:33:47-04

PROVO, Utah -- The jury will continue deliberations Wednesday to decide if an Orem man murdered his wife back in 2012.

After seven hours of deliberation Tuesday, the jury decided they’ll need at least one more day to determine the fate of an Orem man charged with murdering his wife.

Conrad Truman, 32, is charged with first-degree felony murder and second-degree felony obstructing justice.

His wife, Heidy Truman, died from a gunshot wound to the head inside the couple’s home in 2012.

Deputy Utah County Attorney Craig Johnson said there are only two possible ways Heidy Truman died, either homicide or suicide.

According to Conrad Truman, the couple was drinking alcohol and watching TV the night his wife died.

Conrad Truman said his wife went to take a bath and about 20 minutes later he heard the gunshot. He said he found her naked in the hallway, shot in the head. Conrad also told police that he tried to give his wife CPR before calling 911.

According to the defense, they believe Heidy Truman may have slipped and fell while holding the couple’s handgun, and the gun accidentally discharged.

"There is no evidence here to justify any reasonable theory that this was an accident," Johnson said. "Aren't her arms going to go out to protect herself, brace herself from a fall? How is her reaction going to be, ‘I'm going to put this gun to my head and press it hard, and when I fall it accidentally discharges.’”

The defense says the prosecution has no evidence to prove Conrad Truman murdered his wife.

"To believe the state’s theory in this case you have to believe that he walked up and put that gun to her head and shot her, where is the evidence in that?" said defense attorney Ronald Yengich.

During the closing arguments Yengich went on to tell the jury, “They want to hand it off to you and say you make the decision. You live with convicting or acquitting him, you decide whether or not you can live with it forever."

The prosecution also questioned Conrad Truman's reports to police that he had nothing to gain from a dead wife.

"She had $758,000 in life insurance, nothing to gain from a dead wife, not so sure that's supported by the evidence," Johnson said.