Medical Examiner Testifies in Murder Trial

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By Kyle Midura

Story Published: Mar 3, 2010 at 7:26 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 4, 2010 at 10:16 AM MST

BILLINGS - A prosecution witness in the Richard Covington trial said two victims died long before their Billings apartment was destroyed by fire.

Covington is charged with the 2006 murders of neighbors Patti Hubbert, Norman Leighton, and Gerald Morris. Dr. Thomas Bennett conducted autopsies on the bodies as part of the police investigation. He testified Wednesday that Hubbert and Leighton died hours before they were found in an early morning fire September 22nd.

Hubbert's hands and feet were bound, and she gagged with a blue towel. "The blows to her head, though significant, did not cause her death," said Bennett, "her underlying diseases did not cause her death, in my opinion Patti died as a direct result of suffocation."

Bennett said Leighton, whose hands and feet were also bound, died from head injuries. Morris' body was found partially mummified near Blue Creek Road nearly two weeks later. Bennett said he died from a gunshot wound.

Defense attorneys also cross-examined James Gammage. Tuesday Gammage said he bought the alleged murder weapon from Covington in December of 2006. Defense attorneys spent the morning asking him about discrepancies in his day-planner and statements made to the police during the investigation.

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