It may be a while before we find out whether the man accused of murdering a Seattle police officer will face the death penalty.
Christopher Monfort is still waiting to be arraigned in the shooting of Officer Tim Brenton.
So far, Monfort hasn't been able to leave the hospital to show up in court.
Once he's arraigned, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg technically has 30 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty -- but he says standard practice is usually more like six months.
Satterberg says there are a lot of things to consider in a life or death decision like this -- including the feelings of Officer Brenton's family.
"In any death penalty case I make it a point to sit down with the victim's family and get their input about this very important decision," says Satterberg. "But, in the end, it's not the product of a vote, it's my decision."
Satterberg says he also plans to talk to the members of the Seattle Police Department about their thoughts on the death penalty decision.
Christopher Monfort is still waiting to be arraigned in the shooting of Officer Tim Brenton.
So far, Monfort hasn't been able to leave the hospital to show up in court.
Once he's arraigned, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg technically has 30 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty -- but he says standard practice is usually more like six months.
Satterberg says there are a lot of things to consider in a life or death decision like this -- including the feelings of Officer Brenton's family.
"In any death penalty case I make it a point to sit down with the victim's family and get their input about this very important decision," says Satterberg. "But, in the end, it's not the product of a vote, it's my decision."
Satterberg says he also plans to talk to the members of the Seattle Police Department about their thoughts on the death penalty decision.
