Trial continues in Minden attempted murder case

A jury trial in the case of a Topaz Ranch Estates man accused of trying to kill his girlfriend continued Thursday with the playing of investigators' taped interview with the man.

Terrence Joseph Howell, 51, is accused of attacking his girlfriend with a knife and trying to force pills down her throat in an attempt to kill her.

He faces charges of battery with intent to kill with a dangerous weapon, battery that constitutes domestic battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment.

The jury was impaneled on Tuesday and heard the woman testify to what happened to her on Wednesday.

According to testimony, officers responded to a domestic battery call at Carson Valley Medical Center where the woman was being treated for three cuts, including one on her throat, and a bump on the head.

Douglas County Deputy Kevin Schaller testified the woman told him Howell tried to kill her when she told him she was leaving him.

"She said 'Joe tried to kill me' and that he took the knife and attempted to slash her," Schaller said.

Schaller took pictures of the woman's injuries and described them for the jury.

During cross examination Howell's attorney, Arnie Brock, asked if Schaller was sympathetic to the woman before taking her statement.

"I have empathy for all victims," Schaller answered.

He testified that the woman told him Howell tried to make her swallow Vicodin. Brock asked again if it was Vicodin, and Schaller confirmed that's what he believed she said.

Schaller, who teaches self-defense tactics to other officers, said under cross examination that Howell's accuser's wounds could have been made during mutual combat as well as in defense.

Schaller told the jury that in a fight over a knife, he would expect both the attacker and the defender to receive cuts.

"We have a saying that winners drip and losers gush," he said, apologizing to the jury for the graphic nature of the statement.

Douglas County Investigator Greg Rooney testified that he met with the woman after Schaller did and that he had her repeat her story.

Rooney said the woman told him Howell tried to make her eat Valium and that she said she told Howell that she would tell the police she did the damage not Howell.

Investigator Jeff Schemenauer testified that Howell told him the woman was crazy and cut herself.

Schemenauer said Howell had blood on his shirt, but was uninjured.

The trial was recessed for the evening and resumed Thursday morning. The trial is expected to wrap up today.