Why difference in convictions for Oso murder victims?

Published 1:30 am Friday, June 8, 2018

It was no surprise that John Reed was found guilty in the Oso murders based on what we have been reading the past year. However, isn’t anyone surprised that he was found guilty of aggravated first-degree murder in Patrick Shunn’s case but only second-degree murder in the case of Monique Patenaude? Was it because she was shot three times and Patrick only once? Both had been shot in the head. Our convoluted and nonsensical legal system always leaves me scratching my head.

Dennis Weczorek

Lake Stevens

Editor’s note: The Herald’s May 30 article reports that jurors determined Shunn’s death was premeditated, justifying the first-degree murder conviction.