Trial begins in Monroe correction officer’s murder
May 1, 2013, 6:12 AM | Updated: 1:18 pm
The trial of a convicted rapist convicted rapist accused of killing a corrections officer at the Washington State Prison in Monroe is underway in Everett, more than two years since the killing.
Byron Scherf, 54, admitted to killing Jayme Biendl, 34, inside the prison chapel shortly after the January 2011 murder. Prosecutors told the court they plan to play a recording of the confession in which he reportedly admitted he “senselessly took the life of an innocent person.”
The prosecution alleges Scherf planned it so he’d be alone with Biendl. When she fought back after he attacked, he grabbed an electrical cable, wrapped it three times around her neck, and strangled her.
Scherf is now fighting the charges, claiming prosecutors refused to make good on privileges he said they promised him in exchange for the confession.
His defense attorneys claimed in opening statements Scherf didn’t plan the strangulation and killed Biendl after she said something to provoke him and his anger escalated out of control.
The Everett Herald reports the trial is expected to take a few weeks and include dozens of witnesses.
If convicted, Scherf could be put to death. That ultimate punishment is something the convicted rapist told the police and prosecutors early in the investigation that he deserved.
KIRO Radio’s Tim Haeck in Everett contributed to this report
