PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Jeremy Christian’s trial will be delayed until early 2020 after the judge in the case granted the motion from his defense attorneys.
Judge Cheryl Albrecht said since this is a complex case, she is allowing the state to evaluate Christian, who stands accused of killing 2 people and wounding another in a 2017 attack on a MAX train.
A special jury panel will now begin January 10, 2020 with his trial expected to begin on January 21. Christian’s trial had been scheduled to start in June.
In April, Albrecht denied a change of venue motion.
Christian is accused of fatally stabbing Ricky Best and Taliesin Namkai-Meche on a MAX train on May 26, 2017. A third passenger — Micah Fletcher — was stabbed in the neck, but survived.
This was the first time Christian was back in court since an April 26 hearing when he was escorted out after he started yelling at a victim during her statement.
The attorneys for Christian recently filed a motion asking the judge to delay his trial due to a new bill that could narrow the definition of “aggravated murder,” which is the only crime the death penalty applies to. Senate Bill 1013 would limit that definition to acts of terrorism in which two or more people are killed. If passed, the bill could remove the possibility of the death penalty in Christian’s case.
During the April 26 hearing, Demetria Hester urged the judge to move on with the trial as scheduled, saying all the victims want “peace and closure.”
As Hester spoke, Christian started shouting.
“Manufactured. You guys can [inaudible]. I don’t care. I’m the victim. You’re on video macing me. Liar, liar. You’re not the only black person on the MAX, manufacturing hate crimes. You liar. You’re on video you liar,” Christian yelled.
Christian was removed from the courtroom.
The hearing was scheduled to continue on Friday because Christian’s lawyers said they had additional matters related to their motion for a delayed trial. Currently, Christian’s trial is scheduled to start in June.