Police say accused killer escaped them twice

Associated Press - November 18, 2009 11:14 PM ET

DAKOTA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Police have testified that accused murderer Kyle Deemer escaped them twice during high-speed chases down central Iowa back roads, and even through a farm pasture and corn field.

The officers said Wednesday that 1 of the chases reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.

The 29-year-old West Des Moines man is on trial for the roadside murders of his wife and her male friend.

Deemer faces two life prison sentences if a jury convicts him of intentionally killing his 24-year-old estranged wife, Jessica Deemer, and 24-year-old Bryce Mercer.

Prosecutors say Deemer ran the two off the road near Marshalltown in October 2008, and killed them with a 20-gauge shotgun.

Deemer has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Aaron Hawbaker, has suggested that Deemer was too high on methamphetamine to realize what he had done.

Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com