Best Man Faces Trial in Political Strategist’s 2013 Slaying
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ABC News(RALEIGH, N.C.) — Opening statements are expected to begin this week in the trial of Jonathan Broyhill, who’s accused of killing his best friend’s wife, a political strategist.
Jamie Hahn, 29, was attacked in her Raleigh, North Carolina, home in April 2013.
She ran a successful political consulting company, working with former U.S. Congressman Brad Miller, D-N.C. Hahn hired Broyhill — her husband Nation’s best man at their wedding — to do the campaign’s accounting.
“He was practically like part of the family,” neighbor Pamela Hung said of Broyhill in 2013. “That’s how much time he spent at their house.”
But the relationship reportedly soured after Nation and Jamie Hahn became aware of alleged financial irregularities and confronted Broyhill.
Jamie Hahn was stabbed 24 times, authorities said. Nation Hahn was also wounded as he tried to defend his wife, police say.
Broyhill, 32, has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney says his client attempted suicide after Hahn’s death.
“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,” defense attorney Joe Arbour said in court.
That point could be part of the defense’s strategy, according to legal analyst Mark Eiglarsh, who is not personally connected to the case.
“The prosecution has to prove that it was premeditated. What the defense is trying to do is create reasonable doubt that he didn’t plan on murder, he planned on killing himself instead,” Eiglarsh said.
Broyhill’s attorney has not responded to ABC News’ request for comment.
The trial is expected to take up to three weeks.
Broyhill faces one charge of first-degree murder, two charges of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury.
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