A Douglas County jury of six men and six women began deliberating this morning on two of four counts in the trial of a Topaz Ranch Estates man who pleaded not guilty to allegations by a former girlfriend that he tried to kill her.
Terrence Joseph Howell, 51, of Topaz Ranch Estates, was charged with battery with intent to kill with a deadly weapon, battery constituting domestic violence with use of a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, and false imprisonment with use of a deadly weapon.
The jury began deliberations at 7:30 p.m. Friday. They went home at 11:30 p.m., having reached a verdict on two of the four counts and returned 10 a.m. today to continue deliberations.
Howell originally was charged with attempted murder following his Dec. 21, 2006, arrest by the Douglas County Special Weapons and Tactics team.
The trial began Tuesday before District Judge Michael Gibbons.
The jury listened to three hours of closing arguments Friday by prosecutor Kris Brown and defense attorney Arnold Brock, of Reno.
Howell has been in custody on $50,000 bail. He did not testify.
