Thread by @KelleeAzar

It’s been months since a jury convicted him of all charges tied to the MAX stabbings. Today, Jeremy Christian is back in court today to be sentenced. He faces the possibility of life in prison.

Catch up here: katu.com/news/local/max…

The actual sentencing phase is getting started now after a morning of motions. We expect to hear a number of victim impact statements today. Demetria Hester is taking the stand first “We will keep fighting until people like Jeremy Christian are off the streets.”

#LiveOnK2

Watch Victims and Family members face Jeremy Christian before he is sentenced. #LiveOnK2

facebook.com/katunews/video…

After Demetria told Jeremy Christian she hopes he will "go to hell and rot" Christian responded, then started yelling. He was promptly removed from court and the judge says he will not be allowed back. #LiveOnK2

During Christian's outburst he said "I should have killed you when I had the chance" to Demetria. #LiveOnK2

Zhada Allen now taking the stand, she is one of the victims riding the MAX on the day of the deadly stabbing. She says she now suffers from depression and PTSD because of that day. But she says she believes time heals all. #LiveOnK2

Zhada wanted to make sure Jeremy would be able to hear this despite him not being in the courtroom. She says in her statement "Jeremy, you are pathetic"

Here is the moment Jeremy Christian had an outburst in court. Yelling at Demetria Hester he told her "I should have killed you, B****"

Christian was removed from court and will not be allowed back.

#LiveOnK2

WATCH:

Ricky Best's brother now on the stand speaking for his parents. He says his father still weeps for Ricky.

"We ask the court to resist violence and hatred and give Jeremy the full sentence consecutively, for the loss of lives..."

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"We have a message for Jeremy Christian, Jeremy Christian we forgive you and we pray you come to the understanding of the full power of forgiveness." -Brother of Ricky Best

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Ricky Best's son, Eric now on the stand. Telling the court who Ricky Best really was. "He was the type of man who believed you had to be active in your community, he cant sit idly by."

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Eric Best: I lost a father, my brothers a father, my mom a husband. Society lost the type of man that you want in the hard times, during the rough times. I don’t feel any hatred towards Jeremy Christian...I do hope the judge prevents him from hurting another sole. #LiveOnK2

Headed to a lunch break until 1:30.

We are back in court waiting for things to get started. We expect about 10 more impact statements to be made. I have also been told Jeremy Christian will likely make a statement and will be allowed back into court after being removed earlier to hear his sentence. #LiveOnK2

As we get started a victims advocate is asking the judge to allow Christian back into the courtroom. They say the victims and family members wanted him to hear their statements about their loved ones. #LiveOnK2

Micah Fletcher, the sole surviving victim, lawyer now speaking on his behalf asking for Jeremy Christian to be allowed back in. She says he prepared his statement thinking he would be there. #LiveOnK2

Judge is looking for a way to get Jeremy Christian in another room with a stream. So that victims can see him, and he can see victims but not have them in the same room. #LiveOnK2

Jeremy Christian now has a room where he can watch and listen to impact statements. The victims can also see him, they requested that this be allowed as they wanted him to hear what they have to say. #LiveOnK2

The Judge is allowing previous victims to re-read their impact statements with Jeremy Christian now able to watch. #LiveOnK2

The Judge has also ruled on motions argued earlier.

The defense tried to get jury's "sentencing enhancement" findings thrown out hoping he'd get less than life in prison.

The just has denied that motion saying state law allows for a "true life" sentence in this case. #LiveOnK2

Taliesin Namkai Meche's sister now on the stand. "It was my door that the police came to, I was the first family member to learn of my brothers death." #LiveOnK2

"I wish I could look you in the face as I said this. Your crime was not of the murder of my brother but robbery. You robbed me of one of my favorite people on this plant." Tilly's sister said to Christian via video feed in court. #LiveOnK2

Because of delays it's likely sentencing will carry on into tomorrow. There are still 7 people to make statements and the judge says the court closes at 5 sharp. #LiveOnK2

Shawn Forde, the man who stood up putting himself between two young girls and Christian, now on the stand. "This has affected my ability to bring my best self and do my best work in all the places of my life."

#LiveOnK2

We are back in court today for Jeremy Christian's sentencing.We will hear from Shawn Forde whose statement was cut short yesterday because of technical difficulties. We will then hear from Micah Fletcher, the sole surviving stabbing victim #LiveOnK2

MORE:
katu.com/news/local/sen…

As a reminder, these are the people we are here for. Two of these men gave their lives to help and protect others. The third suffered an incredible trauma trying to help. Not to mention the countless others who bravely stepped up that day. #LiveOnK2

Christian was wheeled in to his room where he will watch the proceedings, today he was in a wheel chair, yesterday he was not.

We expected court to start at 9 but clearly running late.

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According to Christian’s lawyer “it was Mr. Christians wish not to be present today.”

His lawyer went on to say he is present is so that he can present a statement of allocution.

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Shawn Forde now back on the stand. He has asked to share his statement from the beginning after being interrupted by technical issues yesterday.

Christian can be seen in the courtroom via video, however he is muted, so cannot be heard.

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Forde: "In this country we are going through a health crisis, a pandemic, and the terrorism continues… another centuries-old pandemic of anti-blackness, racism, white terrorism that has never waned or been healed it simply was morphed into a different looking plague."
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We are streaming the entire sentencing proceedings live. #LiveOnK2

Watch Live: twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

We are once again listening to Shawn Forde and once again are dealing with some technical difficulties again. They are working to fix them. #LiveOnK2

Back up and running, Shawn Forde now continuing his impact statement.

"Again it is our differences that allow us to be a great society, nation and planet."

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Shawn Forde wraps up his impact statement saying: "My recommendation on the sentence, is the maximum on every charge. Whatever that may be."

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Micah Fletcher now on the stand to give his impact statement. We believe he is the final victim to address the court. #LiveOnK2

Micah talking about how much he started drinking a lot, daily. Calling himself an alcoholic in the 9 months following the MAX Stabbing.

"I went from someone trying to finish a degree...to someone who was trying to heal, I was failing"

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"There isn’t a room in this world that I can enter where I don’t look around seeing who the person is most likely to hurt me...I basically spend the first 30 seconds of every room I enter working to find out how easily I can die." -Micah Fletcher

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Fletcher: "First I’d like to apologize to the other families...I’m sorry that I failed at my goal, I wanted to be there for you. I really did. I wanted to be there to sit there and hold your hands and learn about your loved ones."

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Micah Fletcher on the stand now. He is the sole surviving stabbing victim. Watch his statement live now:
#LiveOnK2

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Micah now turns to Jeremy Christian's video feed, speaking right to him:

"I hope you sit in cell for the rest of your life. But I hope you find a way to be a better person than you are today."

#LiveOnK2

Emotional and powerful testimony happening now from Micah Fletcher:

"I don’t want to ever look another person or family in the eye and miss a person that I never had the chance to meet."

Micah stood up and has left the witness box completing his statement. #LiveOnK2

Jeremy Christian now standing addressing the court.

Started by thanking Walia Mohammed, one of the teen victims, for telling the truth.

Now telling Micah “it sounds like you have guilt”

#LiveOnK2

Christian: "I do regret that two people who died, but I don’t regret my actions...It wasn’t my intention to kill anyone, if it was I would have killed Micah Fletcher. "

#LiveOnK2

Christian finished his statement saying: "To Micah Fletcher I hold no ill will, you chose violence, I chose violence, two people died, you survived… feel free to write me in prison I hold no ill will against you." #LiveOnK2

The state now addressing the court. For the two murders, of Ricky Best and Taliesin Namkai Meche, they want true life sentence, served consecutively. #LiveOnK2

Defense addressing the court. Asking to hold off on a restitution ruling. The state says restitution being requested above $12k. #LiveOnK2

Judge preparing to announce sentence. Asked Jeremy Christian if he would like to make another comment. He stood to tell the Best family, he did not mean to kill Ricky. He thanked them for their forgiveness. Called him "collateral damage" #LiveOnK2

Judge: "During statements, I was struck by a theme, that is courage, the courage to forgive, to courage to stare down hatefulness..."

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Judge: "Mr. Christian, I believe that you are a creative thoughtful person, intelligent, you desire to learn and grow."

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Sentence:
Count 1 Murder 1st Degree (Tilly): True life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Count 2 Murder 1st Degree (Ricky): True Life in prison without the possibility of parole.
*They will be consecutive

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Sentence Continued:
Count 3 Attempted Murder (Micah): 130 months consecutive 110 months concurrent. (240 total)

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Convicted MAX Stabber, Jeremy Christian, has been sentenced to 2 True Life Sentences to be served consecutively for the Murders of Ricky Best and Taliesin Namkai Meche. He will also serve 240 months for the attempted murder of Micah Fletcher. #LiveOnK2