Man guilty in street death

A Snohomish County Superior Court jury on Wednesday decided that a Snohomish man was an accomplice in a 2004 beating death on an Everett street corner.

Michael Edward Kyzar, 33, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the death of Russell Walden, who suffered fatal head injuries. Kyzar remained free on $75,000 bail pending sentencing Oct. 5 by Judge Gerald Knight.

The sentencing range is between 61/2 and a little more than eight years behind bars, deputy prosecutor Julie Mohr said.

A co-defendant, Erik Shreffner, 30, of Everett previously was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to eight years.

Mohr alleged that Shreffner was the main force in the beating, at first leaving a prone and unconscious Walden and returning to stomp on his head early Aug. 25, 2004. Walden died six days later.

Kyzar’s jury debated for a day and a half before reaching a verdict. Afterward, jurors said they were deadlocked 11-1 in favor of convicting Kyzar of second-degree murder. When they couldn’t reach a decision, they pursued the manslaughter charge.

Jurors also said they concluded that Kyzar was an accomplice to Shreffner.

The beating happened at Hewitt Avenue and Broadway and was the last of a series of confrontations on the street as groups of people left a bar.

Shreffner complained that somebody jumped him during an evening of drinking, and blamed Walden for not telling him who did it, according to testimony.

At least one witness testified she saw Kyzar deliver a blow to Walden, 42, of Everett.

Mohr argued that Kyzar encouraged and participated in the beating with Shreffner. Defense attorney Chad Dold of Everett told jurors Kyzar was there, but was not a participant.

One more defendant’s case is pending in the death. Leonard Cory Decker, 36, of Marysville has been charged with rendering criminal assistance for allegedly lying to police, Mohr said. He’s scheduled for trial in early October.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.