PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — “I’m about to stab some motherf—–s.”
That’s how Prosecutor Jeffrey Howes began closing arguments in the MAX attack trial of Jeremy Christian, the man accused of killing Taliesin Namkai-Meche and Ricky Best and critically wounding Micah Fletcher on a Green Line train as it pulled into Hollywood Transit Center on May 26, 2017.
The closing arguments began more than 3 weeks after the trial began in Judge Cheryl Albrecht’s Multnomah County courtroom. Christian faces 12 charges, including two counts of first degree murder.
Howes went over those 12 charges the jury will decide. To convict Christian of the two murder charges, the jury must be unanimous. To reach a verdict on any of the other charges, there must be a 10-2 decision.
The jury has the option to convict Christian of second degree murder, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide instead of first-degree murder.
Prosecution closing arguments
Jeffrey Howes replayed video of the attack on Demetria Hester the night of May 25, 2017. His first statement was connected to the assault on Hester when Christian threw a bottle “like a bullet” at her eye as she got off a different MAX train.
Just 17 hours later, Howes told the jury, Christian would stick a knife into the necks of 3 people.
Howes went witness by witness, describing the terror experienced by 3 teenage girls on the train, calling out the heroics of people like Marcus Knipe who saved Fletcher’s life, and Morgan Noonan, who tried to save Namkai-Meche.
“If you’re ever on a train and something goes wrong, you want a person like Morgan Noonan on that train, ladies and gentlemen,” Howes said. “Army medic. Served overseas. Did what we hope anyone would do.”
When he got to Demetria Hester’s testimony regarding the incident May 25, Howes said she told Christian to shut up. “‘We don’t want to hear that. Nobody wants to hear that. But one thing we know by now, the defendant’s going to react violently if you tell him to shut up.”
KOIN 6 News will update this throughout the day
Background
The 12-person jury (plus one alternate) will listen to prosecutors Don Rees and Jeffrey Howes make their case that Christian killed Taliesin Namkai-Meche and Ricky Best and critically wounded Micah Fletcher on a Green Line train as it pulled into the Hollywood Transit Center on May 26, 2017.
They will also listen to defense attorneys Greg Scholl and Dean Smith make their case that there are extenuating circumstances that led their 37-year-old client to his actions that day.
Once the closing arguments are completed, Judge Cheryl Albrecht will give the jury their detailed instructions for deliberations.
Jeremy Christian pleaded not guilty to 12 charges: two counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree attempted murder, one count of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault, three counts of second-degree intimidation, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of menacing.
Digital reporter Hannah Ray Lambert covers the Jeremy Christian trial for KOIN 6 News and KOIN.com. Follow her on Twitter for an updated, minute-by-minute breakdown of the proceedings.
Complete KOIN Coverage: The MAX Attack Trial
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and provide updates throughout the case
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