SEATTLE — A King County Superior Court judge on Friday agreed to appoint a "special master" to oversee defense spending in Gary Ridgway’s murder trial.
Ridgway is charged with killing four of the 49 women listed as victims of the Green River killer in the past 20 years, and his defense is being provided by public funding. Tony Savage, one of Ridgway’s lawyers, said the special master, who has not been named, would review the necessity and legitimacy of any defense request for funding.
"We’re in uncharted waters here," Savage said. "This is an enormous case, and there’s a lot of money being bandied around."
King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng is expected to announce on Monday whether he’ll seek the death penalty against Ridgway.
Man hit with skateboard dies: A Renton man who was hit in the head with a skateboard earlier this week died Friday evening at Harborview Medical Center. Demetri Andrews, 33, died at 5:50 p.m., Harborview spokeswoman Susan Gregg-Hanson said. He had suffered a skull fracture and bleeding into the brain and had been in a coma. Police said Andrews was hit Tuesday night in a confrontation with three skateboarders in the University District. They had skated into the street, forcing his car to brake. He got out to confront the young men and was hit from behind.
Bremerton
Woman dies in fire at Bremerton senior complex: A 65-year-old woman died Thursday in a fire at an apartment building for senior citizens. Crews responded to the fire at the Charter House Apartments shortly after 6 a.m. and found the body of Carla Blakesley at the foot of her bed. Blakesley’s poodle, Didi, was found dead nearby. The fire began in the bed of Blakesley’s ground-floor apartment, Bremerton Fire Marshal Scott Rappleye said. A smoke alarm outside Blakesley’s unit was triggered, and Charter House assistant manager Ardyth Mason went through the 30-unit building knocking on doors and evacuating residents. No other serious injuries to residents were reported.
Wenatchee
House fire claims second life: A 2-year-old boy has died from injuries suffered in a house fire that also claimed the life of his 6-year-old brother. Ukeyzah Johnson died Thursday after he was removed from life support at Children’s Hospital in Seattle, said spokeswoman Georgia Taylor. His brother, Khiyodhie, died in the fire Monday. The fire is believed to have started in the basement of the 100-year-old house, but Chelan County Fire Chief Dave Mathews said the cause was still under investigation.
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