Meade jury to weigh manslaughter, murder

Published 10:56 pm Monday, April 12, 2010

EVERETT — A judge agreed to allow prosecutors to charge Everett police officer Troy Meade with both manslaughter and second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a drunken Stanwood man last year.

Meade, 41, pleaded not guilty on Monday to both charges. The 11-year police veteran is accused of killing Niles Meservey during a confrontation June 10 outside the Chuckwagon Inn on Evergreen Way.

An intoxicated Meservey, 51, was belligerent and refused to get out of his Chevrolet Corvette, according to witnesses. Meade fired eight times into the back of Meservey’s vehicle. The Stanwood man was hit by seven rounds and died at the scene.

Meade is expected to argue that he shot Meservey in self-defense.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin today.

Meade’s attorney David Allen argued Monday that prosecutors shouldn’t be allowed to level both charges at the same time. Doing so would be prejudicial against Meade, Allen said.

Jurors can be instructed to consider a lesser charge during their deliberations if they can’t reach a verdict on the more serious charge. There must be evidence to support the lower charge or jurors won’t be instructed to consider the lesser crime.

The manslaughter charge alleges that Meade recklessly caused Meservey’s death. To prove second-degree murder, prosecutors will have to show Meade acted with intent to kill, but without premeditation.

Prosecutors argued that they have probable cause for both charges, and therefore are allowed to charge Meade with both crimes under alternate theories.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Gerald Knight agreed, saying it’s up to prosecutors to determine what charges to file.

Meade’s case is the first time a local police officer has been charged in a line-of-duty killing.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.