Woman denied bail in decapitation case

Prosecutors acknowledge she’s a victim of domestic violence, but say she should have alerted authorities

A New Hampshire woman whose husband killed her lover and then forced her to decapitate the body must remain behind bars until her trial, a judge ruled Monday.

Coos County Superior Court Judge Peter Bornstein denied the bail request and sided with prosecutors, who acknowledged the woman was a victim of domestic violence but she still should have done more to alert authorities.

The woman’s husband is accused of luring Jonathan Amerault, 25, on Sept. 19 to a park, kidnapping him and shooting him to death. He is also accused of hiding the body at a campsite in northern New Hampshire. He was charged in October with murder and beating his wife, who has been charged with falsifying evidence. Both have pleaded not guilty.

“The state has established by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s release would pose a danger to the public,” Bornstein said. “I agree with the state’s characterization that her dangerousness is demonstrated by the series of decisions that she made over considerable amount of time and over considerable distances to destroy evidence and not make legitimate alternative choices.”

The wife told police she was forced to drive Amerault’s car, containing his body, to the campsite, while her husband drove another vehicle. At the campsite, the woman said her husband ordered her to cut off Amerault’s head so his body could not be identified.

The woman’s attorney insisted she posed no danger.

Assistant Attorney General Scott Chase said the woman, despite ample opportunity, failed to call for help.