Cop killer Christopher Monfort sentenced to life in prison
Jul 23, 2015, 1:45 PM | Updated: 5:09 pm
A man who shot a police officer to death was sentenced to life in prison Thursday. (File photo)
(File photo)
A man who shot a police officer to death was sentenced to life in prison.
The verdict for the case against Christopher Monfort, who killed officer Timothy Brenton in 2009, was announced Thursday afternoon after the jury deliberated for about an hour after closing arguments.
The jury voted unanimously to send Monfort to prison for life, without the possibility of parole, KIRO Radio’s Sara Lerner reports.
Related: Life in prison might be better than death penalty for Christopher Monfort
A jury convicted Christopher Monfort last month of killing Officer Brenton. They also found him guilty of attempted murder for shooting Brenton’s partner, Brit Kelly.
Monfort’s lawyer said Monfort’s life should be spared because of his mental illness and tough childhood. Monfort’s defense didn’t deny that he shot Seattle Police Officer Brenton on Oct. 31, 2009. Rather, it pleaded that Monfort was insane at the time. Monfort was also charged with firebombing police vehicles nine days prior to the fatal shooting, at the police department’s Charles Street lot.
Jurors rejected the insanity defense. Monfort was found not guilty of one count of attempted murder. He was found guilty on charges of arson, premeditated murder, murder in the first degree and two charges of attempted murder.
What kind of message does this sentencing send to other police officers, KIRO Radio’s Don O’Neill asked Seattle attorney Anne Bremner. How are they reacting to this sentencing?
“Just like you — mad, angry, frustrated,” Bremner responded. “To have him just walk up to a patrol car … and execute an officer, it’s just unbelievable. And this jury decided that didn’t warrant the death penalty.”
Though the only “special treatment” Monfort will get in prison will be medical, he might be hailed a hero by people in the general population, Don said.
“Yeah, cop killers can be,” Bremner agreed.
If Monfort can skirt death for such a high-profile case, how can anyone expect to sentence someone to the death penalty in Washington, Don asked.
“If you’re not going to put that guy to death, how will you put anyone to death?”
Bremner was surprised at how quickly the jury made its decision. An hour is typically not enough time for deliberation.
“Most people can’t have lunch in an hour,” she said.
In the case of Joseph McEnroe, for example, jurors deliberated for about two days.
