Jury finds Erick Walker guilty of manslaughter in Molly Conley trial
Mar 30, 2015, 1:04 PM | Updated: 4:30 pm
Listen: Molly Conley's father, John, spoke with reporters about his daughter and the verdict outside the courtroom Monday afternoon.
Jurors have found Erick N. Walker guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter in the death of a 15-year-old Seattle high school student who was walking along a road in Lake Stevens two years ago.
The jury did not convict Walker of first degree murder.
Molly’s father, John Conley, spoke with reporters outside of the courtroom Monday afternoon.
“The jury was correct to find Molly’s killer is responsible for her death. But we are heartbroken that the jury failed to conclude the defendant committed murder when the evidence clearly supported this conclusion.
“The jury has concluded that the accused pulled the trigger and killed Molly. They have concluded that there was no intent to hurt her, however, soon after they have concluded that he shot at homes and intended to do great harm. We’re confused with this and just profoundly disappointed.”
Molly Conley was celebrating her birthday with friends in the Snohomish County city of Lake Stevens on June 1, 2013, when she was fatally shot.
Related: Molly’s father talks about life one year after losing daughter
Prosecutors contend the shot was fired from a passing vehicle by Walker of Marysville.
John Conley pointed out that there were six girls walking on the road that night and all six were victims.
“They’ve been going through this for almost two years,” Conley said. “Their commitment to finding justice for Molly has been unwavering. Through multiple continuances, their young lives have been interrupted to ensure justice for their friend.”
In addition to first degree manslaughter, Walker was found guilty on five counts of drive-by shooting and four counts of first degree assault.
Related: Ballistics, car fragments led to arrest of man in Conley murder
Investigators never found the bullet that killed Conley and her friends didn’t get a good look at the shooter, but Snohomish County Deputy Prosecutor Ed Stemler told jurors that Walker was responsible for a “gut-wrenching tragedy.”
Defense lawyer Mark Mestel said his client is an innocent man who became a convenient suspect for police under pressure to solve a high-profile case.
“It’s her life more than her death that we hope people remember, since it was her life that was so amazing,” said Molly Conley’s father.
