A Jaffrey woman charged with helping her husband hide evidence after the murder of a Keene man last fall has requested to be released on bail, arguing she was forced to cover up the crime.
Britany Barron, 31, is charged with several counts of evidence tampering in the September murder of Jonathan Amerault of Keene. Her lawyer asked a judge to review a request for her release on bail during her next dispositional hearing at the Coos County Superior Court on Monday.
Barron confessed to police that her husband, Armando Barron of Jaffrey, had found text messages between her and Amerault showing evidence that they were having an affair and used Barron’s phone to lure him to an isolated spot in Annett State Park in Rindge, according to state prosecutors. He first attempted to coerce Barron into killing Amerault in several different ways, which she refused. Armando Barron assaulted Amerault before shooting him dead. He then coerced Barron to contribute to the cover-up by transporting Amerault’s body to a campsite in Coos County, and removing his head to make identifying his body more difficult, according to court documents.
Armando Barron has been charged with domestic violence for allegedly viciously attacking his wife upon discovery of the text messages, including beating her and forcing a gun into her mouth, and attacking her again in the vehicle while driving to Annett State Park to lure Amerault.
Since the discovery of the crime, Britany Barron has been held in pretrial detention at the Grafton County House of Corrections. Her lawyer is now seeking to have her released on supervised electronic monitoring with home confinement at a court-approved residence.
“Britany is not a danger to herself or the community. Britany is a victim of domestic violence, having been severely beaten, choked, and threatened with death by Armando Barron,” Barron’s lawyer, Richard Guerriero wrote in a motion requesting Barron’s release on bail, filed with the court on Sunday. “The discovery produced over the last five months confirms that Armando Barron murdered Jonathon Amerault, then compelled Britany to assist in trying to cover up the murder. There is no evidence, and certainly not proof by clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Barron is a danger to herself or others.”
Barron married her husband at the age of 18, and the marriage was abusive. Guerriero alleged that Armando Barron had been unfaithful to Britany Barron in the past, and had beat her when she told him she did not love him anymore, according to the bail request.
Guerriero argued that when she was found at the campsite with Amerault’s body, Barron was “briefly evasive, but then soon told her entire story,” and had given police “critically important evidence” of the crime and had since cooperated fully with law enforcement.
“Having been beaten badly, threatened with her own murder, and knowing that Armando remained a threat to her, Britany did as Armando told her to do,” Guerriero said.
Guerriero cited medical records and submitted photographs taken immediately after her arrest that show Barron had multiple injuries to her face, including swelling to her face, a burst blood vessel in her eye, a fractured nose, a cut to her head, chipped teeth, and bruises on her neck, chest and arms.
Since her incarceration, Guerriero argued, there have been no disciplinary issues at the Grafton County House of Corrections, and Barron has made efforts to maintain contact with her three children through video visits.
Prior to Amerault’s murder, Guerriero said, Barron had no criminal record.
“Britany has never failed to appear for any court date. She has never run from police. She has never tried to escape custody. She has never disobeyed any court order,” Guerriero wrote. “Britany has never been accused of violence against anyone.”
Guerriero argued that Barron’s statements to police were truthful, and that in the five months since the initiation of the investigation, investigators have not charged with additional crimes. Even if Barron was convicted on the evidence tampering charges, she would likely spend a year or less in jail, Guerriero argued. The five months she has already been detained are a significant portion of that sentencing, he said.
Barron requests to live at a residence in Grafton County approved by the court for those on monitored release, and submit to whatever supervision the court deems appropriate, including regular inspection or court visits.
For those who are experiencing domestic violence, Confidential advocates are available 24/7 through New Hampshire’s statewide domestic violence helpline at 1-866-644-3574. You do not need to be in crisis to call.
(Editor’s Note: The Concord Monitor did not initially name Britany Barron because of the domestic assault that state prosecutors said she endured. However, as the criminal charges against her proceed in court, the public interest in this case outweighs the newspaper’s typical policy to shield the identity of victims of domestic violence.)