Assault suspect goes to trial after 230 days in jail

After waiting more than 230 days in jail, a Wasilla man accused of brutalizing and attempting to murder his wife last year is scheduled for trial Monday.

In November, Danny Wood, 36, wasn't happy with the idea of putting off his trial until January and asked Judge Eric Smith for a new attorney.

"I've been in jail 165 days and nothing has happened on my case," Wood complained at a Nov. 15 hearing. He wanted to exchange George Davenport for a new public defender, he said, but by the end of the hearing had changed his mind.

Wood is charged with one count of attempted murder, one count of attempted first-degree sexual assault, kidnapping, coercion and first-degree burglary, and faces existing charges of fourth-degree assault and violating a domestic-violence restraining order.

At the time of the alleged May 9, 2001, attack on his wife, a domestic-violence restraining order was filed against Wood. Troopers allege that on the morning of the attack, Wood hid in the couple's garage after breaking into the home through a bedroom window.

For four hours, troopers said, Wood brutalized his estranged wife by choking her and hitting her head against a tool box. At one point he reportedly threatened to rape her.

After continuing the assault while driving around between Palmer and Wasilla, court documents stated, Wood's wife was able to escape when he stepped out of the truck in a Wasilla movie theater parking lot. Troopers said Wood continued to contact his wife by phone and threaten her while he was on the run from law enforcement. He left Alaska and fled to Missouri.

In one phone call, troopers said, Wood told his wife he "should have finished it on Wednesday," which was the day of the alleged attack. In a second phone call, Wood told her he would harm her the next time he saw her, according to troopers.

Wood was returned to Alaska in June 2001 by troopers after he waived extradition in a Missouri court. He had been tracked to a home in Warrenton, Mo.

Court records show the case against Wood dragged along because crucial evidence the defense needed was not forthcoming. Davenport filed an appeal to the court to subpoena Valley Hospital medical records on Wood's wife.

She was taken to the hospital by Valley Women's Resource staff on the day of the attack. Davenport said he had requested photos and documents showing injuries, but none had been forthcoming from either the state or the hospital.

Another complication arose because Wood's defense attorney needed to obtain confidential Division of Family and Youth Services records in order to review that information against his client.

Dave Berry, the prosecuting attorney, filed notice last week that he intends to offer evidence on the history of violence in the relationship between Wood and his wife, which further set back the case to give the defense time to respond to that motion.