06 Honda Ridgeline – door won’t open, lock won’t unlock

I assume the mechanism has been broken, (kids!) and now the door won’t unlock. This is the front passenger side door on an 06 Honda Ridgeline. If I can get the door panel off, I can figure out what’s wrong. But is it even possible to get the door panel off with the door closed?

Question 1: Can I get that door panel off without the door being opened?
Question 2: If the answer to #1 is “No,” then what’s the trick to getting the door opened? This is not a roadside assistance problem. The door is locked and I can’t unlock it, even by pulling the manual lock. It seems to have been broken inside the door.