Jury gets case against former JBLM soldier accused of killing wife

A Pierce County jury Tuesday began deliberating the case against a former Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier accused of fatally shooting his wife.

Skylar Nemetz, 21, is charged with first-degree murder in the 2014 death of Danielle Nemetz, 19. Jurors also have been instructed to consider lesser charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Danielle Nemetz was shot in the back of the head as she sat at a computer in the couple’s Lakewood home.

Deputy prosecutors Gregory Greer and Jared Ausserer contend Skylar Nemetz shot his wife in a fit of jealousy after learning another man bought alcohol for her while he was deployed on a training mission.

They have argued Skylar Nemetz gave multiple accounts of what happened, none of which square with forensic evidence.

Defense attorney Michael Stewart has argued the shooting was tragic accident, that the gun went off as his client was trying to clear it.

Nemetz took the stand in his defense, testifying he doesn’t know how the gun discharged but that he never intended to hurt his wife.

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Jury gets case against former JBLM soldier accused of killing wife."