Opening statements begin in trial of NH dad accused of killing daughter, 5

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MANCHESTER, N.H. (WCAX) – Opening statements got underway Thursday in the trial of Adam Montgomery, the New Hampshire father accused of murdering his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony.

Harmony disappeared in 2019 but police didn’t know she was missing until two years later. Her body has never been found.

Adam Montgomery has denied killing his daughter. He faces charges including second-degree murder, second-degree assault.

The jury is scheduled to see some of the locations in the case, including an apartment building where prosecutors believe Montgomery hid Harmony’s body before disposing of it.

Montgomery’s estranged wife, Kayla, is expected to be the lead witness for the state. She is currently in prison on perjury convictions. She is expected to testify that Montgomery beat Harmony, causing her death.

“The evidence that will show you that Adam did not brutally murder Harmony will come mostly and very reluctantly from his accuser, Kayla, not from other witnesses or the physical evidence, but by showing that Kayla’s lies continue and the only one protected by those lies is her,” said James Brooks, Adam Montgomery’s lawyer.

“He hated Harmony to his core. And the evidence is going to show that he did everything to destroy Harmony after he beat her to hide his crime, to hide evidence of what he’d done,” New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Christopher Knowles said.

Adam Montgomery waived his right to be in the courtroom on Wednesday.

The trial is expected to take about three-and-a-half weeks.

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