MANCHESTER, N.H. (TND) — Prosecutors took the stand Thursday during opening statements in the murder trial of a New Hampshire man who was charged with killing his 5-year-old daughter.

Adam Montgomery, 34, was accused of beating Harmony Montgomery to death in 2019 and then hiding her body. Police said he allegedly moved her remains from place to place for months.

He hated Harmony to his core," Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Christopher Knowles said in court. "And the evidence is gonna show that he did everything to destroy harmony after he beat her, to hide his crime tied evidence of what he'd done."

The defense told a different story. Defense Attorney James Brooks said Kayla Montgomery, who is Adam's estranged wife and accused him of killing Harmony, has been lying all along.

The evidence that will show you that Adam did not brutally murder harmony will come mostly and very reluctantly from his accuser -- Kayla," Brooks said. "Kayla, not from other witnesses or the physical evidence, but by showing that Kayla's lies continue and the only one protected by those lies is her."

According to court documents, Kayla told police that on Dec. 7, 2019, Adam was driving in Manchester, New Hampshire, when he turned and punched Harmony in the face and head three or four times because she was having accidents in the car and not telling him when she needed to go to the bathroom.

Kayla stated that after the final blow, Adam said he reportedly felt something or heard something when he hit Harmony.

“I think I really hurt her this time. I think I did something,” Adam reportedly said.

Harmony reportedly began making moaning noises, which went on for about five minutes and then stopped, according to court documents.

Police said at no time did anyone stop to get Harmony medical attention. The incident in the car reportedly happened between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Court documents note Kayla said the family went to a Burger King and returned to a Manchester apartment complex parking lot where they were staying. They stayed for about 20 minutes, and no one reportedly checked on Harmony.

The family then left the parking lot, and the car broke down around 12:15 p.m. At that time, Kayla and Adam allegedly discovered that Harmony was dead.

Attorneys gave opening statements on Wednesday. Adam pleaded guilty to two of the five charges against him: abuse of a corpse and falsifying evidence, according to WBZ. The most serious charge against him is second-degree murder.

Harmony's body has not been recovered.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: WGME contributed to this report.

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