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Couture found guilty of McLeod homicide, tampering

By Maggie Plummer

POLSON - Although it took more than two and a half years for James Couture's murder trial to finally begin, it took a Lake County jury less than one hour on Thursday to unanimously find him guilty on all three counts: felony deliberate homicide and two counts of felony tampering with or fabricating evidence.

Couture was convicted of fatally shooting 19-year-old Daniel McLeod of Ronan at least 20 times and dumping his body into the Flathead River from Sloan's Bridge, in early May of 2004.

The long-awaited trial, which was postponed eight times due to an array of legal complications including numerous attorney changes the defendant requested, began Monday morning.

Couture's sentencing has been set for January 11, 2007 at 9 a.m.

According to court officials, defense attorney John Putikka was already working on appeals in the case, the same day the jury verdict was read.