Bail reduced for 59th/Admiral shooting suspect

At the court hearing we reported on last week, the lawyer for the 17-year-old suspect in the October 13th fatal shooting at 59th/Admiral said he would argue for his client to be set free on his own recognizance, released to “home detention,” or at least for his bail to be reduced. Then, earlier this week, we told you the lawyer’s rationale for that request — he contends his client was sexually abused for years by the man he is accused of shooting, has no history of violence, and would not be a danger to the community. Today, we have just learned from court documents posted online that King County Superior Court Judge Michael Trickey did grant a bail reduction earlier this week — cutting the amount of bail the suspect would have to post to get out, from the original $500,000, to the new amount of $200,000. However, according to the online jail roster, he is not out yet. He’s due back in court next Wednesday.

RJ November 1, 2007 (6:37 pm)

It is admirable that the court has taken into consideration the circumstances surrounding the shooting and reduced the young man’s bail, however is still certainly very high and chances are that it still may not be able to be met. While I think there may have been other avenues the young man could have pursued before the situation cumulated in his shooting the alleged predator, I can’t even begin to imagine what he has gone through for the last 5 years assuming he was stalked and abused by the decedent. Learning to trust someone, being bribed and then taken advantage of during such formative years, and being followed from state to state – living with that fear of this person is unimaginable. And now, living and having to re-live the traumatic incident that in one respect has set him free from this darkness in his past has at the same time confined to circumstances that could be potentially worse than what he has already endured. Despite the fact that he shot a man in broad daylight on a beautiful day in W. Seattle, I feel for the young man and his family and have very little sympathy for sexual predators.

Jan November 1, 2007 (7:44 pm)

RJ…well said…if these circumstances are true, the heart just has to go out to him…:(

The House November 2, 2007 (9:21 pm)

Am I missing something? You don’t have smypathy for a sexual predator, but you do have sympathy for a murderer?

I’ve said it before, if the story is true I commend the boy/man for removing a rapist (not sexual predator) from the world but he still has to pay his dues for murder.

RJ November 3, 2007 (1:34 pm)

I’m not saying he shouldn’t pay for this crime, but given the circumstances, perhaps it could be dealt with differently. And no, no sympathy for any adult who “preys” on children. I hate to say it, but there were probably others he molested and abused.