A Mountlake Terrace man accused of murdering his mail-order bride took the witness stand in his own defense late this morning.
Indle Gifford King, Jr., 40, began testifying at about 11:20 a.m. in Snohomish County Superior Court. By the time the jury took its noon-hour break, King had done little except describe his life history and provide a few details about his marriage to Anastasia S. King, 20.
Among other things, King said his 1998 marriage had soured within about a year of exchanging vows, and that he suspected his wife was working as an escort to other men.
He told jurors that he was first attracted to his wife in August 1997 when he saw her photograph in a catalogue of women from the former Soviet Union who were seeking American husbands. King said he thought she looked “wholesome,” and was one of the women in the catalogue who was pictured fully dressed.
King said he and Anastasia King hit it off right away when he visited her at her parents’ home in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
“It was amazing. It was hot. It was good, real good,” King said.
King is charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege he and another man, convicted sex offender Daniel Larson, 21, strangled Anastasia because King was angry over the collapse of their marriage in September 2000. The young woman’s body was found in a shallow grave near Marysville.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
