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2019 trial set for accused killer Jeremy Christian

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The trial for Jeremy Christian, accused of killing 2 people and wounding a 3rd on a MAX train in May, won’t begin for about 18 months.

Jury selection is set to begin June 24, 2019 in a nod to arguments from Christian’s defense attorneys. Prosecutors wanted the trial to closer to the fall of 2018.

Complete coverage: MAX train killings

Ultimately the judge selected Summer 2019 because of the issues and complexities in the case, which is expected to last several weeks. Another reason is because the public defenders are currently involved in multiple capital cases.

Christian, wearing handcuffs and chains during this procedural court appearance, remained silent throughout — a departure from previous court appearances.

He recently underwent a psychological evaluation, parts of which were released in a bail hearing last month.

In a report prepared for the defense, psychologist Mark Cunningham wrote Christian said his actions in stabbing three passengers came while he was on “autopilot,” propelled by a sense of vulnerability and fear of physical attack — which caused “the triggering of prison survival responses” he’d learned during his earlier eight-year stint behind bars, much of it in solitary confinement.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.