JAMESTOWN, N.D. (AP & KCSi-T.V. News Aug 21, 2012) — A Jamestown man on trial for murder in the death of a Somali immigrant says he hit the victim and knocked him to the ground, but denied stabbing him.

35-year-old Leron Howard testified Tuesday that he struck 18-year-old Abdi Ali Ahmed twice during an argument between Ahmed and Janelle Cave on April 30, 2011.

Howard said an altercation between Cave and Ahmed started in a trailer home Cave shared with Howard and Alexa Stoller, over money owed by Ahmed for drugs.

Howard stepped between Cave and Ahmed and struck Ahmed when Howard thought Ahmed was going to strike Cave.

Cave earlier testified that she never witnessed Howard hit Ahmed, and that it was Howard who stabbed Ahmed along a rural roadside.

Howard said Cave stabbed Ahmed.

A medical examiner earlier testified that Ahmed likely died because of blunt force trauma to the head, and that the stab wounds to the abdomen accelerated the death.

Ahmed’s body was found around noon on April 30, 2011, in a road ditch near Spiritwood.

Howard testified Tuesday that he did not know Ahmed was dead until Howard was booked into the Stutsman County Jail, that evening.

Howard is charged with murder and criminal conspiracy in the death of Ahmed, whose body was found in a ditch near Spiritwood.

Cave was earlier convicted of manslaughter and criminal conspiracy and is serving an 11-year prison sentence.

Tuesday  afternoon the prosecution and defense rested, and presented closing arguments.

Defense attorney Steve Mottinger asked the jury to find Howard guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter, saying Howard did not intentionally kill Ahmed, and that  Howard admitted to hitting Ahmed in the head twice, and kicking him.

 In his closing arguments, prosecutor, Stutsman County State’s Attorney, Fritz Fremgen said,  Leron Howard and Janelle Cave  want to distance themselves from the stabbing as it shows intent to harm Ahmed.

The jury  begins deliberation  Wednesday morning

Click link below for trial recap

http://csinewsnow.com/2012/08/20/recapping-leron-howard-trial-proceedings/