By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD — The House Thursday took the first step to ensuring Adam Montgomery faces the family and loved ones of the daughter he is convicted of murdering when he is sentenced for his crime May 9.
The House, on a voice vote, approved House Bill 1713 and sent it to the Senate for its action as supporters seek to fast-track the bill before the sentencing hearing.
Former House Speaker Steve Shurtleff, D-Penacook, the prime sponsor of the bill, proposed anyone who commits a class A felony be present through the judicial process as the federal court system requires.
Currently the state has no law nor court rules compelling a defendant to be in the courtroom during the judicial process, with the only option a prosecutor filing a motion with the court to compel an appearance leaving the judge to decide as has been done in Montgomery’s case.
Montgomery did not attend the trial and does not intend to appear at the sentencing hearing when Harmony Montgomery’s family and loved ones will be there and are expected to read victim statements.
Montgomery was convicted last month of killing his 5-year-old daughter by beating her in 2019, and moving her body to various locations in Manchester before dumping her remains at an undisclosed location in March 2020.
But some lawmakers raised concerns the bill was too broad and could require a defendant to sit through a trial although he or she was found not guilty of the crime.
Rep. J.R. Hoell, R-Dunbarton, said the bill as written “could be used to weaponize the court process for someone accused of a crime. but not found guilty.”
The bill was amended to require the defendant accused of a class A felony be present to hear the verdict read and for sentencing.
Rep. Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, said “if a jury spends the time to hear this case, the defendant should take the time to go in and respect that verdict and he darn well should show up for his sentencing.”
Montgomery was convicted of five charges, including second-degree murder, second-degree assault, witness tampering, falsifying evidence and abuse of a corpse.
Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com. Garry Rayno is InDepthNH.org’s State House bureau chief with 40 years of reporting experience.