Court hearing reveals murder suspect’s background

Update: 3:40 p.m.

Police officers responding to the scene the night Huffield died have testified about what they found when they arrived and the process of tracking Blaney down.

The Ada County Medical Examiner testified that the cause of Huffield’s death was indeed severe blunt force trauma to the head. He said he found multiple fractures on the front and right side of the skull. He said there was also hemorrhage over the entire brain. He also said the injuries would be consistent with being hit by a piece of wood.

ORIGINAL STORY:

It was an emotional day at the Bannock County Courthouse as witnesses testified in the murder of Skylar Huffield. Timothy David Blaney was back in court Tuesday for his preliminary hearing.

Blaney is accused of beating Huffield to death with a two-by-four in the early morning hours of May 25. Blaney is charged with first-degree murder.

On Tuesday, the state called several witnesses to testify about the events of the day of May 24.

The first witness was Diana Shaffer, Blaney’s estranged wife. She was very emotional on the stand as she recounted what happened. According to her testimony, she and Blaney had been separated since February. She stated she left him because he was abusive to her. Diana Shaffer stated Blaney had moved to, and was living in, Oregon since the separation.

Diana Shaffer stated she and Huffield met in early May via Facebook message. They began dating and Huffield began staying the night at Diana and Blaney’s house.

Diana Shaffer and her parents were staying at the same house at the time of the murder. Diana Shaffer testified that she actually saw Blaney beating Skyler Huffield with the board. She claimed she woke up to it because she felt a slight hit from Blaney beating Huffield. She tried to stop Blaney by grabbing him around the waist and screaming at him to stop.

Diana Shaffer wasn’t the only witness who got emotional on the stand while recounting what happened.

Both Ron Shaffer and Marcella Knapp, Diana’s parents, were in a nearby room that night. Both testified to seeing, and briefly speaking with, Blaney in the house that night. Both said they saw Blaney enter their room a second time, with a board in his hand, stating he was going to go wake up Skylar. Both Ron Shaffer and Knapp testified about what they heard occur after that, including Diana Shaffer screaming at Blaney to stop.

Joshua Martin, a friend staying at the house the night of the murder, also testified about what he saw and heard.

Witnesses described Blaney’s demeanor that night as initially calm, but later upset and tense.

Blaney’s defense team questioned Blaney’s mental health status and medical history. According to Diana Shaffer, Blaney has a history of depression, anger issues and was taking mood stabilizers. Defense also questioned the validity of Diana Shaffer, Ron Shaffer and Knapp because Diana Shaffer testified they had all been using meth that day.

Blaney fled the scene after police were called. Police were later able to track his car and arrested him at a Sinclair gas station in Pocatello.

The prosecution still has more witnesses to call. The preliminary hearing is expected to last two days.

Stay with us as we continue to update this case.