Jurors review accused killer’s interview with detectives

Jurors in Del Orrin Crawford’s murder trial on Wednesday watched him struggle to explain to detectives in 2022 why he needed to shoot two people — killing one of them — outside a Martin City bar.   

Prosecutors charged the 42-year-old Kila resident with five felonies in Flathead County District Court following the deadly Aug. 27, 2022 shooting, including deliberate homicide, assault with a weapon and tampering with evidence. Crawford maintains he fired in self-defense as a confrontation over a golf cart outside the South Fork Saloon boiled over.   

Special Deputy County Attorneys Thorin Geist and Selene Koepke are prosecuting the case. Crawford is represented by a team of lawyers led by Missoula-based attorney Kris McLean. Judge Dan Wilson is presiding over the trial.