EVERETT — That winter night outside an Everett school the value of a man’s life was $30.
Donald Barker was beaten and stabbed over a drug debt. Left alone to bleed to death, Barker still had $30 clutched in his hand as he cried for help and told a stranger that he loved his mom.
A jury on Friday deliberated for three hours before finding one of Barker’s attackers guilty of second-degree murder.
Two other men have pleaded guilty for their parts in the Dec. 27 killing.
William Gobat, 35, remained stone-faced as the verdict was read.
Members of Barker’s family cried out in relief.
The slain man’s mother later hugged and thanked Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Matt Baldock and Andrew Williams, the Everett police detective who handled the case.
Before the verdict was read, Baldock reminded Barker’s family that the value of his life could never be accurately reflected in a jury’s verdict or a defendant’s prison sentence.
Barker was a father, son, nephew and friend.
Jurors were told about his battle with a cocaine addiction. The Marysville father went through binges, unable to shed the part of himself that he despised. His aunt told the jury that Barker never gave up trying to break free from his addiction.
Prosecutors alleged that Barker had gone to the school to buy drugs. The dealer sent Gobat and Jimmy Ruiz Jr. and Patrick Griffiths to collect on a $30 debt. Gobat told jurors that Barker had shorted the woman about two weeks earlier.
Prosecutors allege that the men attacked an unsuspecting Barker, kicking, punching and eventually stabbing him.
A woman later heard Barker’s cries for help. She and another man found him bleeding from the mouth and ears. They stroked his back and assured him that help was on the way.
Barker died before paramedics arrived. He had suffered a fatal blow to the head and a stab wound.
Gobat testified that he had punched Barker in the face once but denied taking part in the fatal beating. He denied that he knew that Barker had been severely injured.
Gobat faces up to 18 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Griffiths also is scheduled to be sentenced next month. He pleaded guilty to first-degree armed robbery and faces more than 16 years in prison. Ruiz pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors are expected to recommend at 20-year prison term.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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