By Seamus McGraw
August 7, 2006
SEATTLE, Wash. (Crime Library) — An attorney for Conner Schierman, the young man accused of stabbing to death a family of four and then setting their house ablaze to cover the crime all while reportedly claiming to be in alcoholic stupor, has asked a King County judge to toss out the charges.
Judge Gregory Canova has scheduled a hearing for later this afternoon on a request by Schierman's lawyer to dismiss the four counts of murder and one count of arson against the 24-year-old self-described recovering alcoholic. In court papers filed last week, Schierman's lawyer James Conroy argued that police investigating the case inadvertently released critical notes regarding their probe to local media, and irreparably damaged Schierman's chances to find and seat an untainted jury.
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| Conner Schierman |
Such motions are not uncommon in homicide trials, particularly in cases that generate the kind of intense media attention such as Schierman's, but most observers agree that there is little chance the judge will accede to Conroy's request.
Schierman's lawyer may have more luck with a second motion, also slated to be heard today, asking for a delay in the proceedings for five months to give him more time to collect documents and other evidence to dissuade the prosecution from seeking the death penalty in the case.
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