Wendy Tamagne and Suspect David Godwin
PROSECUTORS: Man cut up woman; caught on video buying hacksaw & trash bags
By WITN News
BEAUFORT, NC (WITN) - Jurors heard gruesome details this morning in the capital murder trial of a man accused of killing and then cutting up a Morehead City woman nearly two years ago.
David Godwin could get the death penalty if convicted for the 2016 murder of Wendy Tamagne.
The 37-year-old woman's body was found in her apartment by police after a welfare check on July 5, 2016. Police said she was beaten, strangled, and stabbed.
In opening statements this morning, Assistant District Attorney David Spence says Godwin and the victim went out to celebrate the Fourth of July the night before the holiday. Arriving back at her apartment, Tamagne went upstairs and fell asleep, according to Spence, who said Godwin then went upstairs and killed her.
After being notified by the victim's mother on July 5th that she was concerned about her, police went to her apartment and first found a bloody knife, and a blood-soaked bed upstairs, according to the assistant D.A. They also discovered the woman's cat and two guinea pigs dead in a trash can.
Spence told jurors that a police detective cut open one of several trash bags found in another bedroom and inside was the woman's right arm and wrist.
The state says video from Lowe's showed him purchasing a hacksaw on the morning of the 4th, as well as trash bags from the CVS. They say the hacksaw was found in the victim's apartment.
Spence claims Godwin was wearing clothes that belonged to the woman's son in the videos, clothes that were later discovered in the apartment with the defendant's DNA.
Godwin took a bus to Warrenton, Oregon, where prosecutors say he turned himself in after learning he was wanted for Tamagne's murder.
The state gave no motive for the murder in their opening statement.
Godwin's attorney, Buddy Connor, told jurors that this was not a case of who killed Wendy Tamagne, but why. His attorney says Godwin has been diagnosed with several disorders, including bipolar and Aspergers, while there is a history of psychosis and mental health.
Connor added that his client first tried to kill himself in 2006 and has been involuntarily committed three times to mental facilities.
The attorney claims Godwin has no recollection of the murder, waking up on the couch the next morning, went upstairs and saw her dead in the bedroom with a knife in her side.
In a panic, Connor said Godwin left in the woman's pickup truck, and later decided he needed to "clean up" the murder scene.
The victim's mother is expected to be one of the first witnesses the state calls after lunch.
Previous Story
The capital murder trial of a Newport man accused of killing and then cutting up the body of a Morehead City woman began this morning.
David Godwin could get the death if convicted for the 2016 murder of Wendy Tamagne.
The 37-year-old woman's body was found in her apartment by police after a welfare check on July 5, 2016. Police said she was beaten, strangled, and stabbed.
Godwin was captured in Oregon.
Jury selection for a capital murder trial at the Carteret County Courthouse took all of last week. Lawyers began with opening statements at 10:00 a.m.
https://www.witn.com/content/news/507942821.html
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