Murder trial begins against Jonathan Broyhill, Raleigh man charged in Jamie Hahn's fatal stabbing
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Nearly two years after a rising star in state Democratic politics was brutally murdered, jury selection finally got underway Monday in the trial for the man accused of killing Jamie Hahn.
Hahn was stabbed in her north Raleigh home on April 22, 2013 after she allegedly confronted Jonathan Broyhill, who worked for her and her husband's political consulting firm, about money missing from a campaign account belonging to former US congressman Brad Miller.
Court officials indicated that once they start presenting evidence against Broyhill, it could take two to three weeks to try the case.
Broyhill's attorney requested that his client's mother be allowed to stay in the courtroom throughout the trial even though she is a potential witness.
The victim's husband, Nation Hahn, was in the gallery Monday and watched as Broyhill, the best man in his wedding, was brought into court.
Before jury selection began, Broyhill's attorney told the judge that his client tried to commit suicide shortly after Jamie Hahn's death.
According to an autopsy done by the state medical examiner, the 29-year-old was stabbed 24 times, which included wounds to her hands, arms, face, neck and back. She died at WakeMed two days after she was assaulted.
Nation Hahn was wounded along his arms when he came to his wife's rescue. He has undergone surgery and physical therapy according to friends.
"There is evidence in this case I don't think the state will dispute that our client attempted suicide in these matters," Broyhill's attorney, Joe Arbour, said. "And that goes to state of mind with respect to the theories of what caused the homicide to occur that we would at some point anticipate addressing."
During Monday's hearing, it appeared that Broyhill and his attorneys may present their defense case as Broyhill admitting to killing Hahn, but that it wasn't premeditated, because the judge asked Broyhill if he agreed with that possible tactic. He said he did.
Broyhill is facing first-degree murder charges, two charges of attempted first-degree murder, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
