http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2010/05/gresham_man_gets_death_penalty.html
Gresham man gets death penalty for killing witness
By Steve Mayes, The Oregonian
[I]May 10, 2010, 1:31PM[/I]
[IMG]http://media.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty_impact/photo/mikewashingtonjpg-a0c9c39382f760da_small.jpg[/IMG]
Michael Washington A Clackamas County jury decided today that Mike Spencer Washington Jr. should be put to death for killing a witness who testified against him.
Washington, who did not speak at Monday's hearing, will be formally sentenced May 17.
Washington assaulted Mohamed Jabbie in July 2004 and shot him to death a few months later, after Jabbie appeared before a Multnomah County grand jury. Jurors found Washington guilty on April 23.
Jabbie, 33, a native of Sierra Leone, legally immigrated to the United States in 1996 to escape civil war in his home county, one of the poorest in Africa. He worked as a medical transport assistant. Relatives described him as a devoted Muslim who loved soccer and reggae music.
A month after Jabbie died, his girlfriend gave birth to their only child, a daughter.
Jabbie, 33, crossed Washington's path after he started dating Shirleen Stafford, Washington's longtime girlfriend, in early 2004. In July of that year, Washington broke into Stafford's house and beat Jabbie.
Jabbie testified about the assault before a Multnomah County grand jury on Sept. 23, 2004. The next night, Washington, who lived in Gresham, walked into Jabbie's apartment near Clackamas Town Center and shot him seven times. Killing Jabbie was meant to keep Washington out of jail and serve as payback for Jabbie's relationship with Stafford, prosecutors said.
The case against Washington relied heavily on Stafford's testimony and cell phone records, which mirrored Stafford's account.
Stafford was indicted on murder charges but agreed to testify in return for a reduced sentence.
[[email protected]]Steve Mayes[email]
Gresham man gets death penalty for killing witness
By Steve Mayes, The Oregonian
[I]May 10, 2010, 1:31PM[/I]
[IMG]http://media.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty_impact/photo/mikewashingtonjpg-a0c9c39382f760da_small.jpg[/IMG]
Michael Washington A Clackamas County jury decided today that Mike Spencer Washington Jr. should be put to death for killing a witness who testified against him.
Washington, who did not speak at Monday's hearing, will be formally sentenced May 17.
Washington assaulted Mohamed Jabbie in July 2004 and shot him to death a few months later, after Jabbie appeared before a Multnomah County grand jury. Jurors found Washington guilty on April 23.
Jabbie, 33, a native of Sierra Leone, legally immigrated to the United States in 1996 to escape civil war in his home county, one of the poorest in Africa. He worked as a medical transport assistant. Relatives described him as a devoted Muslim who loved soccer and reggae music.
A month after Jabbie died, his girlfriend gave birth to their only child, a daughter.
Jabbie, 33, crossed Washington's path after he started dating Shirleen Stafford, Washington's longtime girlfriend, in early 2004. In July of that year, Washington broke into Stafford's house and beat Jabbie.
Jabbie testified about the assault before a Multnomah County grand jury on Sept. 23, 2004. The next night, Washington, who lived in Gresham, walked into Jabbie's apartment near Clackamas Town Center and shot him seven times. Killing Jabbie was meant to keep Washington out of jail and serve as payback for Jabbie's relationship with Stafford, prosecutors said.
The case against Washington relied heavily on Stafford's testimony and cell phone records, which mirrored Stafford's account.
Stafford was indicted on murder charges but agreed to testify in return for a reduced sentence.
[[email protected]]Steve Mayes[email]
