Death penalty decision in Seattle officer's killing months away
SEATTLE -- King County prosecutors said they will announce by June 15 whether they will seek the death penalty for the man accused of murdering a Seattle police officer.
Christopher Monfort has been charged with aggravated first-degree murder in the Oct. 31 shooting death of Officer Timothy Brenton.
Monfort, who is also accused of an earlier firebombing, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In court on Tuesday, Monfort sat quietly in a wheelchair while his attorneys argued for more time before a decision on whether the death penalty would be sought is announced.
Prosecutors, however, said they fully intend to make their decision in June.
Seattle police detectives shot Monfort at his Tukwila apartment when he allegedly tried to fire a gun at them while running away.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg last month accused Monfort of planning and executing a "one-man war against the Seattle Police Department."
Investigators said DNA evidence found at the scene of Brenton's murder and the earlier arson at a police maintenance yard were a match to Monfort. His DNA was found on identical American flag bandannas dropped at both scenes as "calling cards," according to court documents.
In addition, a rifle found in Monfort's apartment is an identical ballistic match to the weapon used to kill Brenton and wound his partner, Britt Sweeney, in the city's Central District neighborhood according to investigators.
At the Tuesday hearing, a judge ruled that the names of defense experts who may visit Monfort in jail could be kept confidential.
The judge is planning to hold conferences with prosecutors and defense attorneys every 60 days as the case moves toward trial.
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More news from the Central District
Christopher Monfort has been charged with aggravated first-degree murder in the Oct. 31 shooting death of Officer Timothy Brenton.
Monfort, who is also accused of an earlier firebombing, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In court on Tuesday, Monfort sat quietly in a wheelchair while his attorneys argued for more time before a decision on whether the death penalty would be sought is announced.
Prosecutors, however, said they fully intend to make their decision in June.
Seattle police detectives shot Monfort at his Tukwila apartment when he allegedly tried to fire a gun at them while running away.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg last month accused Monfort of planning and executing a "one-man war against the Seattle Police Department."
Investigators said DNA evidence found at the scene of Brenton's murder and the earlier arson at a police maintenance yard were a match to Monfort. His DNA was found on identical American flag bandannas dropped at both scenes as "calling cards," according to court documents.
In addition, a rifle found in Monfort's apartment is an identical ballistic match to the weapon used to kill Brenton and wound his partner, Britt Sweeney, in the city's Central District neighborhood according to investigators.
At the Tuesday hearing, a judge ruled that the names of defense experts who may visit Monfort in jail could be kept confidential.
The judge is planning to hold conferences with prosecutors and defense attorneys every 60 days as the case moves toward trial.
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More news from the Central District