Marine Veteran Dad TESTIFIES Against Son in Murder Trial

In a moment that captures the human tragedy at the center of this case, Mark Duren—a retired sheriff's deputy and Marine Corps veteran—took the stand to testify against his own son in a murder trial. Dustin Duren, 38, is charged with shooting and killing Caitlyn Naffziger, the mother of his two young daughters, on February 29, 2024 in Berlin, New Hampshire.

Mark Duren's testimony revealed critical details about the night of the shooting: he received a phone call from his wife Deborah after Dustin called her saying he had shot Caitlyn. Mark immediately contacted Berlin Police, providing them with information about his son's location, vehicle, and the two young children who were with him. What makes his testimony particularly significant is that Mark had gifted Dustin the Beretta 9mm semi-automatic pistol used in the shooting—his own former service weapon from his years as a deputy sheriff.

This case hinges on a single legal question: Was Dustin Duren justified under New Hampshire law in using deadly force? The defense claims he reasonably believed Caitlyn was about to kidnap their daughter Eloan, and under RSA 627:4, deadly force is permitted to prevent kidnapping. The State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his belief was not reasonable—that this was murder driven by anger, not protection driven by fear. Mark Duren's testimony about his son's training and capabilities cuts both ways: it shows Dustin knew exactly what he was doing when he fired that shot, but it also establishes he was trained to respond to threats automatically.

⏰ KEY MOMENTS IN THIS VIDEO

00:13 - Mark Duren Takes the Stand: Father of Defendant Sworn In
03:14 - The Night of February 29th: Mark Receives Call from Wife About Shooting
05:35 - Mark Duren Calls Berlin Police: Reports Son Shot Caitlyn Naffziger
08:56 - The Service Weapon: Mark Gifted His Beretta 9mm to Dustin After Retirement
11:21 - Defense Cross-Examination Begins: Marine Training and Firearms Proficiency
13:43 - "Every Marine is a Rifleman": Mark Explains Combat Readiness Doctrine
16:08 - Mark Testifies About Dustin's Bond with Daughter Eloan
19:17 - Prosecution Redirect: Marines Taught to Assess Threats, Not Fire Mindlessly
21:45 - Detective Sergeant Benjamin Testifies: Emergency Response Team Entry
28:56 - Inside the Apartment: Finding Caitlyn's Body on the Couch
35:12 - Shell Casing Found: Physical Evidence Preserved at Scene
42:15 - Building Cleared: No Sign of Dustin or the Children
51:30 - Court Continues with Additional Witness Testimony

📺 ESSENTIAL RELATED VIDEOS

State's Opening Statement: Prosecution's Murder Theory -    • Amber Alert Murder Trial OPENS: State Says...  
Why Watch: See how prosecutors frame this as premeditated murder driven by anger and control

Defense Opening Statement: Father Protecting Daughter from Kidnapping -    • OPENING STATEMENT | Defense REVEALS Justif...  
Why Watch: Defense invokes RSA 627:4 justification statute—deadly force permitted to prevent kidnapping

📖 JUSTICE BREAKDOWN REPORT

For complete legal analysis including constitutional implications, strategic assessment of Mark Duren's testimony, and how this evidence affects the justification defense:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S...

🔗 CASE PLAYLISTS

► Full Dustin Duren Trial Coverage:    • NH v. Dustin Duren - Live Broadcast  
► No Breaks Edition:    • NH v. Dustin Duren: No Breaks Edition  
► Trial Analysis Podcast:    • NH v. Dustin Duren: Trial Podcast  
► Key Moments & Clips:    • NH v. Dustin Duren: Key Moments and Clips  

#DustinDurenTrial #NewHampshireTrial #MarineVeteran

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This work continues the legacy of Steven M. Askin (1948-2024), criminal defense attorney and due process advocate. Steven dedicated his life to protecting constitutional rights and training others to demand accountability from the legal system. He was criminally convicted in 2010 for teaching people their rights from a coffee shop in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

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