Blum trial starts today

    The prosecution began its case today against Washington resident James Blum. Blum is charged with the second-degree murder of his wife Patricia Blum, who was found unresponsive in the couple?s home at 1009 E. Washington St. on Jan. 11, 2010.

    The two prosecuting attorneys are assistant Iowa Attorneys General Andrew Prosser and Denise Timmins. The prosecution?s first witness was Washington County dispatcher Michael Powers, who was questioned by Prosser. Powers was on duty Jan. 11, 2010. He received a 911 call at approximately 2:12 p.m., but was unable to communicate with the person on the other end. The telephone number was saved on Powers? computer, so he promptly returned the call. James Blum answered the call. The call was recorded, and that recording was played for the jury to hear.

    On the recording, Blum can be heard saying, ?I just killed my wife.? He also said, ?I won?t cause no trouble.? Powers asks James to spell his name, which he does. Blum said his wife is lying on the couch and that she?s not breathing. He said one of her eyes is black and blue. He told Powers the two were arguing earlier in the day, and can be heard crying.

Blum stated his address and described his house as having Christmas decorations on the front. Powers testified that he didn?t hear Blum tell him his address the first time, and thought Blum said it was 109 East Washington, which is the address Powers reported to the responding police officer. During the call, Powers asks Blum for the address again and learns it is in fact 1009 East Washington.

    Prosser remarked that some of the tape is difficult to hear, and asks Powers what was discussed during those portions. Powers said that Blum told him he did not have any weapons in the house. Powers also asked Blum if Patricia had a pulse, and he said she did not. Blum tells Powers that his back door is unlocked. Powers instructs Blum to go to the back door and wait for an officer to arrive.

    Defense Attorney John Robertson then cross-examined Powers. During direct examination, Powers testified that Blum called 911 on a cell phone but hung up. When Powers called Blum back, Blum reported that he called 911 but couldn?t reach anyone. Robertson asked Powers how he knew Blum hung up. Powers said the call was coded as a ?hang up? on his computer because the call ended. He said he wasn?t sure if Blum terminated the call or if it was dropped because of a bad connection.

    Robertson asked Powers if calls are normally garbled when they?re played back. Powers said they are not normally garbled. He explained that the calls are recorded by putting a tape recorder?s microphone up to a computer speaker. He said the Communications Center is not able to record calls digitally.

    Powers was asked if he thought Blum was crying, and Powers said he was. Powers testified that Blum was cooperative in getting the police officers to his house. On the tape, Blum tells Powers that his back door is unlocked.

    The prosecution?s next witness was Washington police officer Chad Huschka, who was questioned by Timmins. Huschka was on duty that day, too, and received a call to respond to Blum?s residence. He said that based on the information he was supplied with, he treated the call as a medical call. Huschka went to Blum?s residence with Police Chief Greg Goodman and fellow officer Brian Van Willigen. Huschka testified that Blum was wearing a t-shirt, slippers and sweat pants, which were wet. He discovered that Blum urinated himself.

For the full story, see the Jan. 5 edition of The Washington Evening Journal