Compher preliminary hearing goes into second day

A second day of testimony in the preliminary hearing of Brad Compher ran almost 12 hours, finally ending at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Prosecutors say Compher murdered Nori Jones in her Pocatello home in 2004, they’re now trying to show they have enough evidence to take the case to trial.

The hearing resumed Tuesday with testimony from a pathologist who performed the autopsy on Jones’ body. Questioning soon turned to his knowledge of rape kits, and Compher’s lawyers objected to him speculating if Jones been raped.

Also testifying was a police officer who said he saw a cut window screen and fingermarks on the outside of a window, but the defense successfully objected to the incident being called a burglary.

A Pocatello evidence technician brought in sealed evidence and unsealed it court. Those in the courtroom saw photos and copies of fingerprint cards. This was followed by an afternoon of hearing from fingerprinting experts.

The prosecution had just called their 15th witness in the case — an Idaho State Police lab manager — just after 8 p.m. when the judge decided to adjourn.

Prosecutors had been hoping their witness could testify Tuesday as she had to testify in another case in Boise the following morning. Instead, they’ll call her back Thursday.

Day 3 of the hearing starts Wednesday morning.