SEATTLE—
Prosecutors plan to discuss formal charges Monday against Christopher Monfort, the man accused of murdering Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton on Halloween night. They may even file a death-penalty charge against Monfort.Meanwhile, the man who could represent the accused cop killer is speaking out.
John Henry Browne says he's gotten clients off the death penalty before and is ready to help line up a team of lawyers to take on the case.
Browne says he hasn't been allowed to see Monfort at Harborview Medical Center yet, but expects to get access Monday. Monfort is in serious condition after being shot by police Friday, November 6, outside his Tukwila apartment complex.
We are told Monfort's mother flew in from Alaska this past weekend and immediately met with relatives to find her son an attorney.
Browne says he understands this could be a difficult case. Detectives found bomb making materials in Montort's apartment, making it a possible federal trial under new anti-terrorism laws.
Police say Monfort could have been testing bombs over the last few weeks and want to hear from anyone who may have heard explosions in the area around his apartment complex.
The attorney also thinks it could be hard for the shooting suspect to get a fair trial.
"Now we're dealing with the death of a well respected, honorable police officer and the public isn't happy with that. It's going to be very difficult to find a jury in Seattle," says Browne.
Browne has a lot of experience with death penalty cases. He worked on the Ted Bundy trial, and also the 1983 Wah Mee massacre in Seattle. The client in that case was accused of killing 13 people in a gambling club. Browne got that man off the death penalty and life in prison instead.
