EVERETT — Reginal Davis’ family doesn’t understand why anyone would have wanted to kill the Everett man.
His former girlfriend, Alicia Burden, still can’t explain why she buried a knife in his chest.
On Thursday, the judge tasked with trying to find justice in the case acknowledged he, too, can’t make sense of what happened.
“I still am mystified as to what truly went on in this stabbing,” Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry said
Regardless, it’s clear Burden belongs in prison for what she did Aug. 27, 2009, the judge said. He sentenced her to 111/2 years behind bars.
Burden, 26, initially claimed she stabbed Davis, 28, in self-defense. She was pressed against a wall and Davis was choking her when a kitchen knife somehow wound up in his chest, she said.
Detectives were skeptical. She had no bruises on her neck. There were no broken blood vessels inside her eyelids, an injury often associated with attempted strangulation. The investigators also considered it improbable that Davis had lifted up the 240-pound Burden by her neck, as she claimed.
She was charged with second-degree murder and after several delays, was facing trial in late September. On Thursday, however, Burden pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter under an agreement supported by deputy prosecutors Paul Stern and Valerie Shapiro.
Davis was a driver for United Parcel Service. The Philadelphia native had moved to Everett about six years earlier hoping to keep clear of trouble, the judge was told.
He had known Burden for about a year and had allowed her to live in his home for about a month. A few weeks before the killing, he reported to police that she’d stolen his television. He told members of his church that Burden was abusive and threatened him when he didn’t give her money.
Burden reportedly told investigators that Davis didn’t drink or do drugs and treated her well.
“He’s just so perfect. He doesn’t do nothing (sic) wrong ever. … He just goes to church and goes to work. Then comes home.”
Even so, Burden at trial likely would have tried to convince jurors that she was the victim of abuse. The plea agreement spares the slain man’s family from having to listen to such claims, Stern said.
Castleberry said he knows plea agreements can be unpopular but they serve a good purpose when victims’ families are spared listening to ugly testimony.
Burden has five prior felonies, all for property crimes. She has struggled with addiction and supported herself through prostitution, said her public defender, Don Wackerman.
Her manslaughter plea acknowledges that she was reckless when she stabbed Davis, but Burden remains incapable of explaining fully what happened, the defense attorney said.
Burden told Castleberry that Davis only wanted to love her unconditionally and teach her about the Bible.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I promise you I’m sorry,” she said through tears.
Whether that is true is something else that must remain unknown, the judge said.
Scott North: 425-339-3431, north@heraldnet.com.
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