EVERETT — A Snohomish County jury this week acquitted a man accused of breaking his wife’s leg in February.
It took jurors about three hours to decide that Shaun Horn wasn’t guilty of second-degree domestic violence assault or second-degree criminal mistreatment.
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Paul Stern alleged that Horn attacked his wife and then failed to summon paramedics to their Lake Roesiger area home for three days.
Horn, 59, testified during the 2 1/2-day trial, his attorney Jason Schwarz said. He told jurors that his wife fell during a scuffle over his cellphone and he accidentally fell on top of her.
The woman had reported to Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies that Horn tackled her “like a linebacker,” and she heard a pop. She said Horn repeatedly punched her and refused to call 911.
Horn said he didn’t realize his wife’s leg was broken until the next morning. He explained that he didn’t call police because his phone was broken and his wife’s cellphone wasn’t working.
The woman said she was left on the floor for hours.
Horn called police three days later, saying he had found the charger for his wife’s cellphone. He told to jurors that he doesn’t drive and didn’t see any neighbors to help him.
Deputies found the woman lying on the couch with an obvious injury to her leg. She was later taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Horn had been in jail since arrest in February. He was released Wednesday.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley
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