Published: Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Student wants bail reduced in murder trial
Bryce Fortier, jailed since a Halloween party shooting, wants his bail lowered so he can wait at home before his trial.
A judge is scheduled to decide Thursday if he will lower bail to allow a college student to go home instead of waiting in jail for a murder trial.
A lawyer for Bryce Dawson Fortier, 23, asked Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry on Monday to reduce bail from $500,000 to $100,000 during an emotionally-charged arraignment hearing.
Fortier, a Central Washington University student, has been jailed since an Oct. 28 Halloween party the ended when Christopher Chandler, 17, of Kirkland was shot dead during a fight outside a Mill Creek-area residence.
Lawyer Pete Mazzone told the judge that Fortier was "beaten up pretty badly" during a melee as young people were leaving the party. He also told the judge that the defendant's family can raise $100,000 cash to get Fortier out of jail pending trial.
If the family used a bail-bond company to post a bond, it would wind up costing the family $50,000 to meet the $500,000 bail currently set, Mazzone said. If they posted $100,000 cash themselves, they would get the total amount returned after the trial.
Fortier would be willing to abide by any conditions imposed by the judge, including electronic home monitoring, Mazzone said.
Deputy prosecutor Sherry King objected, saying that Chandler's family is concerned about threats and would feel more comfortable with the defendant behind bars.
King said that charges were delayed several weeks while Snohomish County sheriff's detectives investigated whether the shooting was in self-defense.
"It does not appear to the state that this shooting was a result of the injuries" to Fortier, King told the judge.
Several friends and family members of both the victim and the defendant were in the courtroom for the arraignment, in which Fortier pleaded not guilty.
While the judge was considering his ruling on bail, a cousin of the defendant yelled out, calling Fortier a murderer. The cousin was quickly ushered out of the court by detectives.
The judge explained to the family members that defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty. Bail is set only to make sure a defendant makes court appearances, the judge said.
Castleberry told both lawyers he's not prepared to rule without more information. He asked both sides to provide him with written material, which he will consider on Thursday. Meanwhile, Fortier remains jailed.
Fortier had a gun and struggled with Chandler before a single shot rang out, charging documents said.
According to charging papers, Fortier may have been beaten up by others at some point that night, but he was not being threatened when he pointed the gun at Chandler.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.
A lawyer for Bryce Dawson Fortier, 23, asked Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry on Monday to reduce bail from $500,000 to $100,000 during an emotionally-charged arraignment hearing.
Fortier, a Central Washington University student, has been jailed since an Oct. 28 Halloween party the ended when Christopher Chandler, 17, of Kirkland was shot dead during a fight outside a Mill Creek-area residence.
Lawyer Pete Mazzone told the judge that Fortier was "beaten up pretty badly" during a melee as young people were leaving the party. He also told the judge that the defendant's family can raise $100,000 cash to get Fortier out of jail pending trial.
If the family used a bail-bond company to post a bond, it would wind up costing the family $50,000 to meet the $500,000 bail currently set, Mazzone said. If they posted $100,000 cash themselves, they would get the total amount returned after the trial.
Fortier would be willing to abide by any conditions imposed by the judge, including electronic home monitoring, Mazzone said.
Deputy prosecutor Sherry King objected, saying that Chandler's family is concerned about threats and would feel more comfortable with the defendant behind bars.
King said that charges were delayed several weeks while Snohomish County sheriff's detectives investigated whether the shooting was in self-defense.
"It does not appear to the state that this shooting was a result of the injuries" to Fortier, King told the judge.
Several friends and family members of both the victim and the defendant were in the courtroom for the arraignment, in which Fortier pleaded not guilty.
While the judge was considering his ruling on bail, a cousin of the defendant yelled out, calling Fortier a murderer. The cousin was quickly ushered out of the court by detectives.
The judge explained to the family members that defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty. Bail is set only to make sure a defendant makes court appearances, the judge said.
Castleberry told both lawyers he's not prepared to rule without more information. He asked both sides to provide him with written material, which he will consider on Thursday. Meanwhile, Fortier remains jailed.
Fortier had a gun and struggled with Chandler before a single shot rang out, charging documents said.
According to charging papers, Fortier may have been beaten up by others at some point that night, but he was not being threatened when he pointed the gun at Chandler.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.
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