Injuries to a former educator in an Edmonds road-rage incident were inflicted in self-defense, a lawyer said Monday in Everett District Court.
He said he wants his client out of jail.
Seattle lawyer Michael Rasch told Judge Thomas Kelly that the state doesn’t have good reason to keep Corby John Ross, 17, of Edmonds behind bars.
“It’s a case of self-defense, and there is no probable cause” to keep Ross in jail, Rasch said.
Ross was charged Friday with first-degree assault in the beating of Richard Alseth, 64, also of Edmonds.
The former assistant principal backed his Cadillac Escalade out of his sister-in-law’s driveway in Edmonds on Dec. 6 when he pulled in front of a Jeep Cherokee, police said. The Jeep’s driver braked hard to avoid a crash, and then got out of his vehicle screaming at Alseth.
According to court papers, Alseth was punched in the face. He remains in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Chief deputy prosecutor Mark Roe said he doesn’t have the entire story, but “we have enough information that I’m comfortable in filing first-degree assault. At this point, I’m interested in finding out what I always want to know, and that’s finding out the truth.”
Roe added he’s interested in talking to anyone who knows the truth, and the investigation will be directed toward finding the truth.
“If Mr. Ross’ attorney can help us toward that, I welcome his help,” Roe said.
Ross is being held on $150,000 bail and is scheduled to appear again today in court.
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