MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County murder trial of Joseph Nevera is scheduled to resume Monday in Morgantown with the prosecution continuing to present its case.
Nevera, 52, of Morgantown, is charged in the 2024 death of ex-girlfriend Kimberly Osborne. Her body was found in a shallow grave outside of Morgantown.
Nevera denies the charges.
The jury heard a recording of Osborne during testimony Friday afternoon. It came from bodycam footage of a 2022 incident involving Nevera and Osborne, when he was arrested for domestic assault.
In her statement to deputies, Osborne described Nevera damaging doors with a hatchet while drunk. She told the deputy she was scared for her life.
“I put locks on the doors and, look, he took a hatchet and chopped that one out because I was trying to stay away from him,” Osborne said. “And I (saw him) chop the board in and chop the board out, I swear to God (referencing Jack Nicholson from The Shining) that was the same thing he had done.”
Also in the audio from the bodycam, Osborne appeared to be struggling about her future with Nevera and whether she should leave him completely.
“I don’t know, if I’m just going to do something legally, either I’m free, or it’ll get worse, I mean, I know it’s the best thing for me to do,” Osborne said.
A 12-member jury is scheduled to return to the courtroom Monday morning.