DAVENPORT — A Kennewick woman has been convicted of first-degree murder in the Oct. 15 shooting of her lover’s estranged wife.
Amanda Shockey, 33, had contended she shot Mary E. Heidt in self-defense after going to the victim’s apartment.
Shockey told members of a Lincoln County jury that Heidt confronted her with a gun and was killed in a struggle for the weapon.
But the 12-member jury, which began deliberations on Monday, rejected that explanation and convicted Shockey on Wednesday.
Olympia
The state Supreme Court has ruled against a common use of a state water law exemption that makes rural property development easier. The exemption allows a single well to draw as much as 5,000 gallons of water per day without a water right permit from the Department of Ecology. In a 5-4 decision issued Thursday, the court ruled that developers can’t drill multiple wells that each draw less than 5,000 gallons but collectively draw more than the limit.
Spokane
Man cleared to buy chemicals: A mysterious man who drew the attention of an anti-terrorism task force when he tried to buy explosive chemicals has been found and cleared, the FBI says. Special Agent Norm Brown and Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk said the man, who they would not name, had no criminal intent when he tried to buy the chemicals at a Spokane Valley gun shop this month. After receiving numerous tips, law officers identified the man as a U.S. citizen of Russian heritage, who spoke broken English with an accent, Sterk said.
Shelton
Police chief pleads innocent: Elma’s police chief has pleaded innocent to a charge of driving under the influence after authorities say he crashed into a utility pole and nearly struck a highway flagger. Gregory Adams, 48, has been placed on administrative leave by Elma’s mayor. He entered his plea Thursday in Mason County District Court.
Vancouver, B.C.
Women call to say they’re OK: Eight women have called a police task force to say they are safe and should not be included in a list of 50 women who have disappeared from the city’s blighted downtown eastside. "These eight women contacted the tip line to ensure investigators that they are in fact safe," detective Scott Driemel of the Vancouver police told a news conference on Thursday. The eight were not included in the 50 officially considered on the missing list, but they were part of a police review of past similar cases.
Bremerton
Employee gets dose of radiation: Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is reviewing its nuclear safety procedures after a worker received mild radioactive contamination earlier this week. The employee was exposed to low levels of radioactivity Monday while using a hammer to loosen a metal ring within a submarine’s nuclear reactor core, shipyard spokeswoman Mary Anne Mascianica said Friday.
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