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Widow Watches Officer's Assassin Plead Not Guilty
Christopher Monfort, the Tukwila man charged with killing Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton. (AP Photo)
The AP via YellowBrix
December 15, 2009
SEATTLE — A man accused of killing a Seattle police officer on Halloween pleaded not guilty Monday to several charges — with the officer’s widow in the courtroom.
The plea for Christopher Monfort, 41, was entered by his lawyer in King County Superior Court in Seattle. He was ordered held without bail.
Prosecutors said Monfort was conducting a “one man war” on police when he shot Officer Timothy Brenton and wounded Officer Britt Sweeney as they sat in a parked patrol car. He’s also accused of firebombing police cars on Oct. 22.
Monfort was wounded in a Nov. 6 confrontation with officers who arrested him at his apartment complex in the Seattle suburb of Tukwila. He appeared in court in a wheelchair.
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The courtroom was packed with Seattle police officers, including Sweeney, and Brenton’s widow.
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Lisa Brenton told reporters that she had felt helpless, afraid and confused since the shooting and had planned to avoid media at Monday’s arraignment.
But after visiting the memorial to the four Lakewood police officers killed Nov. 29 she was overwhelmed with a sense of strength and support.“From the family of the one to the families of the four, these deaths are not going to be tolerated,” she said, breaking down in tears.
Sweeney did not speak to reporters after the arraignment.
KING-TV reported that Monfort’s mother, Suzan Monfort, told reporters it was a tragedy for both sides.
King County prosecutor Dan Satterberg has 30 days from Monfort’s arraignment to decide whether to seek the death penalty, but such decisions are typically delayed to give defense attorneys more time to prepare.
Monfort was charged Nov. 11 with aggravated first-degree murder in the death of Brenton. He’s also charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Sweeney, a rookie officer who was grazed by a bullet.
He faces two additional counts of attempted murder and one of arson from an alleged attempt to kill officers during the Oct. 22 arson that burned police vehicles, and an alleged attempt to shoot a detective who approached him outside his apartment.
No clear motive has emerged, but Satterberg has said that Monfort left fliers at the arson discussing police brutality.
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HCSO531
about 4 years ago
248 Comments
God rest the officer, wont be smirkin if this POS gets the death penalty
Adladle
about 4 years ago
604 Comments
This guy is smirking at the camera because he thinks he is smarter than everyone else and that he will get away with everything. It is so much fun to watch people like this crumble and fall when their ego is deflated.
Ahi
about 4 years ago
1990 Comments
I vote death penalty.
ds212
about 4 years ago
1508 Comments
when the jury reads the verdict and the death sentence is pronounced, the smile will fade away from his face.
rainmaker
about 4 years ago
280 Comments
Seems to me, that drive-bys and acts of violence against their own kind? Accounts for the majority of so-called unsolved muders.
tom_mcmullen06
about 4 years ago
22 Comments
In My Opinion I think he should have met the same fate as maurice clemmons.
BillJ
about 4 years ago
264 Comments
This is really sad she loses her husband to this scumbag and he has the gall to claim not guilty. Sometimes I think frontier justice needs to be brought back. Hang the pos by the neck until dead no appeals no nothing straight from the courthouse to hangin tree.
hughes_amanda28
about 4 years ago
90 Comments
Go for the death penalty!!!!! We need to show that we are not going to put up with people going after and killing our LEO. I pray everyday that the Lord keeps all LEO safe in our nation and takes them home safe.
RescueNanny
about 4 years ago
2646 Comments
He even looks smug and arrogant
J_D
about 4 years ago
60 Comments
What a turd sandwich
Djfludd
about 4 years ago
230 Comments
Give him the long drop, with the short rope.
rhood
about 4 years ago
23592 Comments
Arrogant piece of garbage. Try him, fry him and throw his carcus in the landfill.
WesternLawman
about 4 years ago
26970 Comments
Wipe that smile off your face you POS! Justice is coming!
Mark508
about 4 years ago
248 Comments
. The prosecutor should have know even before the araigment that this pos needs the death penalty. I'd like to slap that smirk off his face.
Anonymous
about 4 years ago
If they werent going to ask for the Death Penalty before Nov 29th, they will ask for it now. But then this ass will sit on Death Row with a kazillion appeals from everything from "Im a minority they're being mean to me, to I had a bad childhood"
Either defense can be stated while his sorry A$$ is being wheeled to the gas chambers... Actually a firing squad would be more be-fitting, since he likes guns so much.
Actually that would be quite amusing! They could strap him to the wheel chair and watch him try to wheel out of range of the gun fire while the firing squad is taking shots at him.. just toy with him until he's too tired to wheel out of the way anymore.. Yes, I know thats twisted, and that just came off the top of my head! LOL!