Accused Seattle cop killer to pursue insanity defense
Feb 4, 2013, 5:50 PM | Updated: 5:54 pm
Accused cop killer Christopher Monfort appears in a King County courtroom in January, 2012. (Josh Kerns/MyNorthwest.com photo)
(Josh Kerns/MyNorthwest.com photo)
Lawyers for the man accused of killing a Seattle police officer and wounding another on Halloween night in 2009 say Christopher Monfort plans to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
Monfort, 42, is charged with aggravated murder for allegedly gunning down Officer Timothy Brenton and attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of officer Britt Sweeney as they sat in their car in Seattle’s Central District.
He’s accused of pulling his car along side their patrol car and opening fire with a rifle before fleeing. He was arrested and seriously wounded by officers one week later in Tukwila, leaving him paralyzed.
Monfort’s lawyers filed notice Friday in King County Superior Court they plan to pursue an insanity defense. “With respect to the charges, Mr. Monfort, due to a mental disease or defect, was unable to determine right from wrong [at the time of the shooting],” Carl Luer, one of Monfort’s defense lawyers, told The Seattle Times Monday.
The King County Prosecutor’s Office refused to comment in response. They are seeking the death penalty in the case.
Monfort was supposed to go on trial later this year. But there’s no indication yet whether his insanity defense will delay the proceedings.
If Monfort is found not guilty by reason of insanity, he would be sent to the state mental hospital instead of prison.
