Fallen officer's widow: Death penalty 'appropriate' for Monfort
SEATTLE --King County prosecutor Dan Satteberg will seek the death penalty against accused cop killer Christopher Monfort, he announced Thursday.
Monfort has been charged with first-degree aggravated murder in the death of Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton last Halloween.
"The intentional, premeditated and random slaying of a police officer is deserving of the full measure of punishment under the law," Satterberg said in a statement.
The fallen officer's widow, Lisa Brenton, said she was "happy" about the prosecutor's decision.
"I think it's an appropriate decision for the crime that he committed," she said. "You can't just kill a police officer, period, but the way he killed him - in cold blood; he was executed - I don't know of any other punishment that would be appropriate for him."
Monfort's lawyers said life in prison without parole is a sufficient sentence for the man who is now paralyzed and in extreme pain.
Last week the defense team sought a delay in the death penalty decision, hoping to find something in Monfort's mental evaluation and biography that might help sway Satterberg away from seeking capital punishment, but a judge denied the motion.
On his way out of the courtroom on Thursday, Monfort let out yet another rant about police brutality. He is said to have been waging a one-man war against police.
Lisa Brenton and Monfort's mother were both in court to witness that rant. They also saw each other.
"Actually when she was leaving court, she looked right at me," Lisa Brenton said of Monfort's mother. "I felt bad for her. So I looked at her in the eyes and I smiled. And she smiled back. And I think she knows. I know she's feels bad for me. And I feel bad for her."
Monfort also faces three counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting at the junior officer on the same night, and also taking aim at two other officers.
In addition, Monfort is charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Oct. 22 fire-bombing of four Seattle police vehicles at a city maintenance yard.
"The magnitude of the crimes with which the defendant is charged, and the absence of significant mitigating factors, convinced me that we should submit this case to the jury with the full range of applicable punishments, including the possibility of the death penalty," Satterberg said.
Monfort has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial date has not yet been set.
Monfort has been charged with first-degree aggravated murder in the death of Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton last Halloween.
"The intentional, premeditated and random slaying of a police officer is deserving of the full measure of punishment under the law," Satterberg said in a statement.
The fallen officer's widow, Lisa Brenton, said she was "happy" about the prosecutor's decision.
"I think it's an appropriate decision for the crime that he committed," she said. "You can't just kill a police officer, period, but the way he killed him - in cold blood; he was executed - I don't know of any other punishment that would be appropriate for him."
Monfort's lawyers said life in prison without parole is a sufficient sentence for the man who is now paralyzed and in extreme pain.
Last week the defense team sought a delay in the death penalty decision, hoping to find something in Monfort's mental evaluation and biography that might help sway Satterberg away from seeking capital punishment, but a judge denied the motion.
On his way out of the courtroom on Thursday, Monfort let out yet another rant about police brutality. He is said to have been waging a one-man war against police.
Lisa Brenton and Monfort's mother were both in court to witness that rant. They also saw each other.
"Actually when she was leaving court, she looked right at me," Lisa Brenton said of Monfort's mother. "I felt bad for her. So I looked at her in the eyes and I smiled. And she smiled back. And I think she knows. I know she's feels bad for me. And I feel bad for her."
Monfort also faces three counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting at the junior officer on the same night, and also taking aim at two other officers.
In addition, Monfort is charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Oct. 22 fire-bombing of four Seattle police vehicles at a city maintenance yard.
"The magnitude of the crimes with which the defendant is charged, and the absence of significant mitigating factors, convinced me that we should submit this case to the jury with the full range of applicable punishments, including the possibility of the death penalty," Satterberg said.
Monfort has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial date has not yet been set.