EVERETT — A Seattle attorney is concerned his client, charged in a 2007 double homicide, won’t get a fair trial because of media coverage of a co-defendant’s trial.
In his motion to move the trial to King County, Philip Sayles wrote that The Herald’s coverage of Areewa Saray’s trial in January has created an “unfit environment for (Saroeun) Phai to have a fair trial.”
Attorneys can ask to have a trial moved if they can show publicity has made it impossible to find impartial jurors.
Sayles wrote that there were “several” stories published in The Herald during Saray’s trial.
There were four stories written last month and earlier this month.
Saray was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted.
Phai, 25, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder in the shooting deaths of Linda Nguyen and Kevin Meas. The couple was killed inside an Everett indoor pot farm.
Phai’s trial is scheduled to begin March 9.
Sayles wrote that “given the inflammatory publicity, fueled by overzealous journalism, to Snohomish County residents, Mr. Phai will be viewed as a murderer and evil.”
Sayles wrote that he believes a fair trial will prove Phai’s innocence. Sayles urged Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman not to leave his client “in the hands of the media and an enraged and hostile public in this county with the hope that somehow, someway the overwhelming inflammatory and sensational publicity will not impact the fairness in this case.”
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
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