Door won't open...Help!

[nikonNUT]

Hey all,
Have a 2010 Toyota Yaris that got hit by a deer (No, really! Came off a hill and smashed into the passenger side of the car. There are antler marks on the side glass.) and trashed the outside door handle and I am assuming jacked up the door latch mechanism. The door would open from the inside for a while but one day I opened the window and the door popped open so something was out of place and got snagged. After that... No mas. I would like to fix it but I need to get the door open (door card off, etc.) so I can assess the damage and start the fix but I am lost about the inital opening. Looking at, and fiddling with the cable assembly, I can feel resistance so its something else. I need suggestions, short of a sawzall, for getting this thing open. Any tricks y'all can offer WITHOUT aiding or abetting a felony? I'm at a loss and apprecaite any advice that can be offered!