PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – In what legal observers call a rare move, a 58-year-old murder suspect testified before the very grand jury investigating his alleged criminal misconduct.
Michael Lamont Lawson was indicted on July 21, 2015 by a Multnomah County grand jury, according to court records. He is charged with one count of murder constituting domestic violence.
According to Portland Police, officers responded to the Seven Gables Apartments around 3:30 p.m. on June 29 on reports of a stabbing. Police say prior to the stabbing, Lawson was involved in a fight with his son, 22-year-old Nicholas Lawson.
Michael Lawson is being represented by Ronald M. Fishback. He was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.
Criminal defense attorney Kevin M. Sali says it is rare, but not unheard of, for a person who is the subject of a criminal investigation to testify before the grand jury.
Sali is not affiliated with the Lawson case. He says most criminal defense attorneys would recommend that their clients not testify before a grand jury. Sali says, under Oregon law, statements made by any witness can be used against during a trial.
In some cases, however, Sali says a defense attorney may want his or her client to testify before a grand jury when the case involves self-defense.
Sali used the example of deadly police involved shootings. The officer will testify, as a witness, before the grand jury to explain his or her actions leading up to the decision to use deadly force. The grand jury will then make a determination on whether or not the killing was within the scope of the law.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office says it cannot comment on the factors leading up to Lawson’s appearance before the grand jury. Deputy District Attorney Amber Kinney, who is prosecuting the Lawson case, could only say that grand jury proceedings are secret and only involve the witness, grand jurors and the prosecutor.
Records show a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge allowed a sheriff’s deputy to be in the grand jury room when Lawson testified because Lawson has been in the custody of the sheriff’s office since his arrest.
Lawson’s arraignment has been scheduled for August 3 before Judge Henry Kantor.