MINOT, ND ( KXNET ) — We are now learning more about the events leading up to a Minot woman’s murder since the affidavit has been sealed since 2021.

The trial for Kamauri Kennedy continues in Ward County District Court, as the state called their first witnesses to the stand on Thursday.

Kennedy is charged with the murder of 33-year-old Domonique Kelley after police found her body in her burning car in northeast Minot on a gravel farm road in June of 2021

Thursday, officers testified that hours before Kelley’s body was found, she was pulled over for a traffic violation and the Narcotics Task Force searched her car. She was cited and let go.

Some of those same officers then responded to a 911 call of a burning vehicle. That 911 caller took the stand and provided a recording he took of the burning Chevy Impala to police.

Investigators also uncovered that Kelley had an infliction on her left cheek, consistent with a gunshot wound. Police said they found her body in the back seat on the passenger side of the car with that door open.

The former state forensic examiner testified that even with the possible gunshot wound, she ruled Kelley’s autopsy as death by the fire, and said Kelley was still breathing as the car was burning.

Kennedy’s attorney tried to dispute that claim, saying it’s possible Kelley’s injuries were self-inflicted.

“In a case like this, is it possible that Ms. Kelley shot herself in the face, dragged herself into the back of a car, pushed the car door open, and lit herself on fire? Possible. Is it likely that this happened? Not at all,” explained Dr. Berrie Miller, North Dakota’s former State Forensic Examiner.

Investigators also testified they believed a second vehicle was involved. They found tire tracks near the scene of the crime that they said were consistent with a larger vehicle not matching the Chevy Impala.

A Minot Police Department Patrol Officer testified that MPD also received several reports of other fires nearby that night within a 30-minute time frame.

“After we got that initial call for the structure fire, within an approximate half-hour period, there was a vehicle fire in Southeast Minot, and grass lit on fire in southeast Minot,” explained Amanda Somerville, a Patrol Officer with MPD. “It seemed like they were all in relation, and they had all been done maybe together as maybe a distraction tactic, or a tactic to limit our resources.”

The prosecution is expected to call around a dozen more witnesses. The trial is set to last until the 27th.

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