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Trial Begins for Man Charged with Killing Estranged Wife

Joseph Paul DeWise is charged with murder in January 2018 death of Lauren Walder DeWise

By Tristan Scott

BOZEMAN — A trial is underway in Montana in the case of a man charged with a shooting that killed his estranged wife and critically injured one of her housemates.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports jurors heard opening statements Monday in Joseph Paul DeWise’s trial for deliberate homicide in the January 2018 death of Lauren Walder DeWise and attempted deliberate homicide for shooting Ashley Van Hemert.

Defense attorney Annie DeWolf told jurors that DeWise’s children lied to investigators. His son said DeWise took him to the house in Belgrade where the shootings occurred and his daughter told investigators DeWise confessed to killing Lauren DeWise.

DeWolf alleged the children made up the story after talking with their mother, DeWise’s ex-wife.

Gallatin County prosecutor Jordan Salo said Lauren DeWise’s alleged infidelity was the motive for the shooting.