A Snohomish County jury went home for the weekend without announcing a verdict in the case of an Everett man accused of ordering the September 2002 death of Rachel Burkheimer.
Jurors were scheduled to resume deliberations Monday in the aggravated murder trial of Yusef "Kevin" Jihad, 34.
Jurors on Friday morning sent Judge James Allendoerfer a note that appeared to seek clarification on how to fill out verdict forms. Later, they asked to be sent home about an hour before the end of the court’s usual business day.
Prosecutors spent nearly three weeks attempting to prove Jihad was the leader of a local gang whose members perceived a threat from Burkheimer, 18, of Marysville. They allege Jihad ordered Burkheimer’s death because he couldn’t be certain she would keep silent about being beaten and tied up in Jihad’s home.
He is charged with four separate crimes, including first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy, first-degree murder and aggravated murder. If convicted, Jihad would serve from a decade in prison for kidnapping to life in prison without release.
Meanwhile, lawyers for co-defendant John Anderson, 22, on Friday filed court papers seeking a court order to move his April 19 aggravated murder trial to Pierce County, or be allowed to select his jury from there.
Extensive reporting on the case by The Herald and other news media makes it unlikely that a fair jury could be selected here, Anderson’s defense attorney, public defender Susan Gaer, said in court papers.
"The media has already found the defendant (Anderson) guilty," Gaer wrote.
Reporting about Jihad’s defense, which blamed Anderson for Burkheimer’s death, has made the situation "even more egregious" Gaer added.
Evidence shows Burkheimer died from multiple gunshot wounds. Witnesses at Jihad’s trial implicated Anderson as the gunman.
Gaer said that prior to Jihad’s trial she believed it would have been challenging, but possible, to find a fair jury for Anderson in Snohomish County.
"But given the last two weeks, I don’t think it is possible," she said.
Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431 or north@heraldnet.com.
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