Attorney says shooting death came from game

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

Trent Dirden didn't mean to kill Brendan Humphrey when he put a .38-caliber revolver to her head and pulled the trigger three times, defense attorney Peter Christiansen told jurors Tuesday.

He was playing a game he and Humphrey often played together while arguing, and Dirden thought he would be able to safely pull the trigger four times, Christiansen said.

Tragically, Dirden miscounted and a bullet slammed into the young mother's head on the third shot, Christiansen said. The couple's 6-month-old daughter, who was lying nearby, was unhurt.

"No one will testify Trent was anything but remorseful and upset and crying," Christiansen said during opening arguments in Dirden's murder trial.

Christiansen said the evidence will show that what happened to Humphrey was nothing but a tragic accident.

"To compound this tragedy by charging someone with murder serves no justice, it serves no purpose," Christiansen said.

Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo, however, told jurors Dirden and Humphrey had a tumultuous relationship, one that Humphrey had tried to walk away from on at least two prior occasions.

On Oct. 7, 2000, DiGiacomo said Dirden, 22, shot Humphrey, 22, when she tried to leave during an argument that began with Dirden criticizing her weight.

Dirden, DiGiacomo said, should be convicted of first-degree murder.

If he is convicted, Dirden could receive a life sentence with or without the possibility of parole.00